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I saw this part on the rear of the Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut, and I can see that it is asymmetric. Is it maybe for interference, or is it a take-off aid because the Su-47 is a STOL plane?

What is it and why is it asymmetric?

Su-47

Edit:Second picture is mirrored

Su-47

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    $\begingroup$ It's just a thing put there to create asymmetry by someone who was a secret admirer of Burt Rutan. $\endgroup$
    – quiet flyer
    Commented Apr 18, 2020 at 21:40
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    $\begingroup$ Is it a reference to the ad-1? $\endgroup$
    – L'aviateur
    Commented Apr 19, 2020 at 12:13

1 Answer 1

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The Su-47 has two tailbooms of unequal length outboard of the exhaust nozzles. The shorter boom, on the left-hand side, houses rear-facing radar, while the longer boom houses a brake parachute.

Source: Wikipedia

Related: What is this part between the Su-35's jet exhaust nozzles?

Note: Your second image is mirrored. Here's a real photo with the right (starboard) boom being the longer one:

enter image description here
Su-47 (aka S-37) in lead, also notice the tail numbers of the formation (no mirroring); source: wikimedia.org

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    $\begingroup$ Interesting to note that even the experimental Su-47 has a white nose radome! $\endgroup$
    – Rodrigo de Azevedo
    Commented Sep 26, 2021 at 10:33
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    $\begingroup$ @Rodrigo: Assuming it's reasons 1 and/or 2 I mentioned in my answer, it still makes sense. Why change a manufacturing process and/or new standard just for an experimental. $\endgroup$
    – user14897
    Commented Sep 26, 2021 at 18:21

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