Russia's Su‑57 debuts in China amidst stealth skepticism
The Su-57 was spotted at Taiyuan-Wusu International Airport in Shanxi Province, central China, on 3 November 2024. The aircraft appeared there in connection with the upcoming Airshow China 2024, where it will participate for the first time. Described by Vladimir Putin as "the best aircraft in the world," it will be presented to a wider audience.
According to Chinese state media, this was the first flight of the Russian Su-57 to China. The aircraft will participate in the 15th edition of Airshow China 2024, which will begin on 12 November and last for six days. As reported by the Chinese weekly Global Times, the Chinese fighter jet J-35 may also debut at the show, as hinted by a photo published on social media on Monday, 4 November, by the press centre of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Russia's most advanced fighter jet
The Su-57 (Sukhoi Su-57) is a fifth-generation fighter jet intended to replace older models such as the MiG-29 and Su-27. It is equipped with two Saturn AL-41F turbofan engines, which allow it to reach a maximum speed of 2.0 Mach (over 1,520 mph or approximately 2,445 km/h). The length of the Su-57 is over 20 metres, the height is 4.6 metres, and the wingspan is about 14 metres. The standard armament of the fighter includes a 30 mm 9A-4071K cannon. The Su-57 can also carry missiles on six internal and six external hardpoints.
Vladimir Putin advertised the Su-57 as "the best military aircraft in the world," but its stealth technology is often questioned. Despite assumptions of a hard-to-detect design, the Su-57 can be visible on radars, mainly due to the external mounting of armaments. Missiles mounted under the wings, such as the Kh-59, act like large radar reflectors, as noted by our Tech journalist Łukasz Michalik.
Moreover, the use of the aircraft in real operations is limited, and its presence in conflicts, such as in Ukraine, raises doubts about its true combat capabilities. Russian efforts to increase its production may indicate an attempt to maintain the aircraft's reputation, but detectability problems may affect the effectiveness of combat operations.
