Russian Su‑57 deployment: New era in aerial capabilities over Ukraine

The Russian aviation conglomerate, United Aircraft Corporation, has unofficially confirmed the deployment of Su-57 Felon fighters in Ukraine, reports The Bulgarian Military. The aircraft, along with the Su-34 and Su-35, are set to form the "central combat element of the special operation," as highlighted by the company in a statement passed on to the Russian state news agency TASS. Let us remind you what the Su-57 fighters are and what capabilities they possess.

"The latest fifth-generation Su-57 fighter is designed to carry out the most complex tasks. It is capable of conducting missions in dense enemy air defence conditions due to its advanced stealth functions and survivability. Despite the high parameters of existing aircraft, the Sukhoi Design Bureau is working on improving and expanding the functionality within the tasks of the Northern Military District," the United Aircraft Corporation said.

It is not yet known what specific improvements will be made to the Su-57 that will appear over Ukraine. However, The Bulgarian Military suggests that the Russians will likely focus on production enhancement phases. The service reminds us that starting in 2024, Su-57 fighters were expected to gain new engines, allowing them to fly faster and more efficiently in fuel consumption. Planned upgrades also included stealth technology, the pilot's cockpit, and the ability to carry modern weaponry.

The Su-57 is a machine that provokes a lot of emotion. The Russian fifth-generation fighter, which was created as a response to the American Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program and the American F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter, was presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2019 as "the best military aircraft in the world." Initially, it was planned to enter service in 2017-2018, but this goal was not ultimately achieved. Mass production of the Su-57 only began in 2019.

Russian fifth-generation fighters, despite the praised features by Russians, do not appear too often in Ukraine, although United Aircraft Corporation's announcements suggest that this may change in the future. It is not excluded that the Kremlin will increase their use following the deliveries of F-16 fighters to Ukraine. Especially since the construction of Russian aircraft, particularly the composite materials used in their creation, such as polymers, fibreglass, and aluminium honeycomb fillers, impact the reduction of radar signature, infrared emissions, and noise of the Su-57. They are, therefore, harder for the enemy's air defence to detect.

The Su-57 is approximately 20 metres long and can reach a maximum speed of 2,450 km/h. Its primary armament includes 1 × 30 mm 9A-4071K cannon. The fighter also features 6 internal and 6 external weapon stations used to carry rockets, including R-77 and R-37M missiles or Kh-69 cruise missiles. The Su-57 is often referred to as the most advanced Russian aircraft.