Russia deploys enhanced Su‑57 fighters in the Ukraine conflict

The Russian aerospace conglomerate, United Aircraft Corporation, has unofficially confirmed the deployment of Su-57 Felon fighters in Ukraine, reports The Bulgarian Military. These aircraft, along with the Su-34 and Su-35, are to form the "central combat element of the special operation," as highlighted by the company in a statement conveyed to the Russian state news agency TASS. Here, we remind you what Su-57 fighters are and their capabilities.

"The latest fifth-generation Su-57 fighter is used to accomplish the most complex tasks. It can carry out missions in dense enemy air defense conditions thanks to its advanced stealth features and survivability. Despite the high parameters of the existing aircraft, the Sukhoi Design Bureau is working on improving and expanding functionalities within the tasks of the Northern Military District," communicated United Aircraft Corporation.

It is not yet known what specific enhancements will be made to the Su-57 that will appear over Ukraine. However, The Bulgarian Military suggests that the Russians will most likely focus on the phase of production improvements. The service recalls that from 2024, Su-57 fighters were to gain new engines, enabling them to fly faster and more efficiently in fuel consumption. The planned enhancements include stealth technology, pilot cockpit improvements, and capabilities related to carrying modern armaments.

The Su-57 is an emotionally charged machine. The Russian fifth-generation fighter, developed in response to the American Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program and the American air superiority fighter F-22 Raptor, was presented in 2019 by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the "best military aircraft in the world." Initially, it was planned to enter service between 2017 and 2018, but this goal was ultimately not achieved. It was not until 2019 that mass production of the Su-57 began.

Despite the praised features by the Russians, Russian fifth-generation fighters do not appear very frequently in Ukraine, although United Aircraft Corporation's announcements indicate that this may change. The Kremlin may increase their use after the delivery of F-16 fighters to Ukraine. Particularly since the construction of Russian machines, especially the composite materials used in their construction, such as polymers, fiberglass, and aluminum honeycomb fillers, influences the reduction of radar echo, infrared emission, and Su-57 noise. Thus, they are more challenging to detect by the opponent's anti-aircraft defense.

The Su-57s are about 66 feet long and can travel at a maximum speed of Mach 2.0 (over 1,520 mph). Their basic armament includes a 1 × 30 mm 9A-4071K cannon. The fighter also has six internal and six external weapon hardpoints used to carry missiles, such as the R-77, R-37M, and Kh-69 cruise missiles. The Su-57 is often referred to as the most modern Russian aircraft.