Russia's Su‑57 deliveries raise questions about aircraft quality

The Russian industry recently touted the delivery of a batch of Su-57 aircraft, which Russians consider fifth-generation machines. Here's a look at the two rusty and dusty units showcased.

The Russian United Aviation Corporation (UAC) in KnAAZ announced the delivery of another batch of Su-57 aircraft, known as the Felon according to NATO code. Estimates suggest that the Russians have about 20 units, including prototypes.

These aircraft are also sporadically used to attack targets in Ukraine. Below, you can see a video and photos of the two units most likely being handed over. It's worth noting that they do not look like new production but rather like factory leftovers for which the Russians finally managed to assemble the missing parts.

This is indicated by the matte or dust-covered canopy, which greatly differs from what was seen earlier, such as during the presentation of the Su-57 to Kim Jong Un. Moreover, the engine nozzles have a characteristic rusty coating, which should not be present on new machines.

The Su-57 is the newest and most technologically advanced aircraft in Russia's history, differentiating itself from another evolution of the post-Soviet Su-27. The prototype flight took place in 2010; since then, 10 test units and a similar number of production units have been built.

From the start, the Russians promoted the Su-57 as a fifth-generation multirole aircraft, intended to be a response to the famous F-22 Raptor and F-35. This means that the Russian machine, to meet the criteria of the fifth generation, would need to be characterized by low observability, the ability to fly at supersonic speeds without afterburners (supercruise), and advanced avionics and sensors.

The criterion of low observability was especially questioned by specialists from the RAND think tank and, interestingly, by the Indians, who were Russia's partners in the program for 11 years, expecting a fifth-generation aircraft. However, seeing the minimal progress made by the Russians and the fact that they were denied access to technological details, India decided in 2018 to withdraw from the joint venture and allocate funds to purchase French Rafale aircraft, among other things.

The Su-57 is a large aircraft with an empty weight of approximately 18,000 kg and a wingspan of a little over 14 m. Its maximum takeoff weight is about 30,000 kg, and its armament is carried in internal bays that accommodate six pylons. The aircraft also has six additional pylons on the wings, but using them would increase its radar signature even further.

According to the Russians, the Su-57 is also equipped with a powerful radar with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) and a passive IRST system, although the performance of both systems is likely to be worse than that of Western solutions. It is also possible that new units may even be equipped with older systems because Russia is cut off from modern electronics, which it cannot produce itself due to its technological lag.

The Su-57, one of the few Russian machines, can carry powerful long-range R-37 air-to-air missiles, known from the modernized MiG-31BM aircraft. These missiles can destroy targets at distances of up to 300 km (for larger targets like transport planes or AWACS; for fighter jets, the range is lower but still higher than that of the AIM-120 AMRAAM).