From Su-27 to Su-57: The Secret Brainpower Behind Russian Warplanes  

Russian combat aircraft incorporate specialized computational systems known as onboard digital computing machines (abbreviated as BCS). Their responsibilities include processing data, managing navigation and weapon systems, transmitting information to the pilot, and maintaining situational awareness and safety. A modern BCS is a compact, reinforced computer that includes RAM and non-volatile memory, as well as complex data exchange interfaces and various input/output channels. One of its main functions is the integration of avionics, navigation, targeting, real-time environmental analysis, information display, and maintaining stable aircraft control in the presence of partial failures.

Early Modern BCS Systems: The Su-27 and Early Su-30 Era

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Russian fighters, including the Su-27 and export variants of the Su-30, began employing digital BCS systems, including the 486-2K, 486-1M, and 900 models. Adapted from consumer computing, these systems were reengineered for military-grade aviation use and were based on 32-bit Intel i486DX4-90 processors functioning at 90 MHz. They were designed to ensure deterministic responses to control signals and various onboard sensors, and they were programmed in C, C++, and assembly languages. They operated under a real-time operating system called RelMK32.

The power supply complied with rigorous aviation standards, operating at 115V 400Hz AC and 27V DC. Key communication interfaces included Russian-developed standards, such as GOST 26765.52-87 and GOST 18977-79, and ARINC 429. Parallel buses and RS-232C terminals were employed to facilitate software development and uploading. The efficacy of avionics under combat flight conditions was guaranteed to be robust and reproducible by these systems.

The “Baget” Series: The Development of Modularity and Processing

The BCS “Baget” family, which includes versions such as Baget-53-31 and Baget-53-31M, was developed and used in Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft. This development represents a substantial technological advancement. These were built on the KOMDIV-64SMP processor (model 1890VM5F), which was developed domestically at the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2005. The processor operates at a maximum speed of 396 MHz and is built on the MIPS IV superscalar architecture, which facilitates parallel instruction execution. Initially, the production process was contracted to foreign semiconductor foundries; however, it was subsequently localized within Russia.

The microkernel architecture of the operating system “Baget 3.0” was designed to reduce the impact of failures by isolating system components. The system supported standard aviation software specifications such as ARINC 653 and POSIX 1003.1, and the code was written in C/C++ and assembly. Internal communication was carried out via VME 32 and PCI 2.1 buses, while external interfaces consisted of 100 Mbps Ethernet for software updates and testing and Fibre Channel with rates of up to 1062 Mbps for data and graphics, respectively. The Baget-53-31M Series 1 was also equipped with a dedicated graphics module (MGK-8) for 2D/3D visualization and had a maximum memory capacity of 8 GB.

IMA BK and the Su-57: A Revolution in Fifth-Generation Jets

The Su-57, also known as PAK FA, is the next-generation fighter that has introduced entirely new computational capacity requirements. In 2017, the State Ryazan Instrument Plant introduced a new modular computing system known as the IMA BK (Integrated Modular Avionics Combat Complex) to address these requirements. Model 1888TX018 comprises four application-specific integrated circuits that serve as the bedrock of this system. Each of these system-on-chip (SoC) modules is made using 28 nm CMOS technology and includes two PowerPC 470S CPUs that can run at speeds of up to 800 MHz, along with four domestic neuro-matrix digital signal processors (NMC3) that run at 400 MHz. These are intended for the processing of visual and radar signals.

IMA BK provides a comprehensive range of interface support, such as Ethernet GMII, MII, SPI, USB 2.0, UART, I2C, SpaceWire, Fibre Channel, ARINC-818, and PCI-e x4, among others. It is equipped with up to 1 TB of non-volatile memory and 16 GB of error-corrected RAM. The system is capable of supporting distributed processing, which enables the dynamic allocation of subsystems for graphical output, radar analysis, flight control, and sensor fusion. In the event of hardware issues, it also substantially enhances fault tolerance by facilitating a seamless fallback to alternative modules.

Its real-time operating system, “BagrOS 4000,” is designed with full ARINC 653 support for multi-core processors. The system enables the rapid replacement of software-defined modules, future scalability, and functional enhancements without necessitating complete hardware redesigns.

Progress, Prospects, and the Unknowns of 2025

The IMA BK system and its Bagros OS established new standards for Russian combat aviation in terms of modularity, scalability, and computing capacity. However, the precise configuration of onboard computers installed on presently deployed Su-57 fighters remains unknown by 2025, as significant refinement has occurred, particularly in onboard electronics. Russian defense developers have been striving to incorporate processors that are even more powerful, increase memory throughput, and implement electronic countermeasures that are more advanced.

In addition to adhering to national military standards, modern BCS systems are now engineered to guarantee information interoperability across platforms and systems. The Su-57 is intended to be a component of a more comprehensive digital ecosystem, in which real-time data from multiple platforms is autonomously or semi-autonomously integrated, processed, and acted upon.

Today’s BCS systems combine powerful hardware, well-connected software, strong packaging, and adaptable data structures, giving Russian fighter planes all the tools they need for modern digital warfare. They serve as the cognitive core of combat aircraft, converting raw data into tactical action in a matter of milliseconds.