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Sukhoi Su-57
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"SU-57" redirects here. For other uses, see SU-
57 (disambiguation).

The Sukhoi Su-57 (Russian: Сухой Су-57;

NATO reporting name: Felon)[5] is a twin-
engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft
developed by Sukhoi.[6] It is the product of the
PAK FA (Russian: ПАК ФА, short for:
Перспеĸтивный авиационный ĸомплеĸс
фронтовой авиации,
romanized: Perspektivnyy Aviatsionnyy
Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii, lit. ''prospective
aeronautical complex of front-line air forces'')
programme, which was initiated in 1999 as a
more modern and affordable alternative to the
MFI (Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42). Sukhoi's
internal designation for the aircraft is T-50.
The Su-57 is the first aircraft in Russian military
service designed with stealth technology and
is intended to be the basis for a family of
stealth combat aircraft.

Su-57

A Su-57 with serial production pixel camouflage

Role Stealth multirole

fighter

National origin Russia

Design group Sukhoi

Built by Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Aircraft Plant

First flight 29 January 2010; 13

years ago

Introduction 25 December 2020[N 1]

Status In limited service[1][2]

[3]

Primary user Russian Aerospace

Forces

Produced 2019–present

Number built 74 built, 212 more

planned, expected:
286 (by 2028)[4]

Variants Sukhoi/HAL FGFA

A multirole fighter capable of aerial combat as

well as ground and maritime strike, the Su-57
incorporates stealth, supermaneuverability,
supercruise, integrated avionics, and large
internal payload capacity.[7] The aircraft is
expected to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27 in
the Russian military service and has also been
marketed for export. The first prototype
aircraft flew in 2010, but the program
experienced a protracted development due to
various structural and technical issues that
emerged during trials, including the
destruction of the first production aircraft in a
crash before its delivery. After repeated delays,
the first Su-57 entered service with the
Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS)[N 2] in
December 2020.[8]

Development

Design

Operational history …

Testing and trials …

Su-57 flying upside down

Even before the first flight of the T-50

prototype, several subsystems were tested on
other aircraft for validation and risk reduction;
an Su-27M was used to test the AL-41F1
engine on 21 January 2010, while another
tested the KSU-50 flight control system.[147]
The T-50 prototype conducted its first high
speed taxi run on 21 January 2010 and had its
maiden flight several days later on 29 January
2010.[38] First supersonic flight occurred on 14
March 2011 at a test range near Komsomolsk-
on-Amur.[89]

The Su-57 tests consisted of preliminary trials

PI (Russian: ПИ, short for: Предварительные
испытания) conducted by Sukhoi at the
Gromov Flight Research Institute (LII, Russian:
ЛИИ) at Zhukovsky, as well as two stages of
joint state trials GSI (Russian: ГСИ, short for:
Государственные совместные испытания)
conducted by the Ministry of Defence at the
929th State Flight Test Centre (GLITs, Russian:
ГЛИЦ) at Akhtubinsk.[148] The completion of
GSI-1 resulted in the acceptance of the
aircraft's airworthiness, and the completion of
GSI-2, which tests the mission systems and
armaments, clears the Su-57 for operational
service. The preliminary trials and state trials
occurred with some overlap with each other.
[149]

Early flight tests revealed that the initial T-50

design had problems with structural strength
and fatigue; when the first two prototypes were
showcased publicly in MAKS-2011, the
airframes cracked despite flying with a
restrictive 5–g limit, which necessitated
grounding and structural reinforcing for over a
year as well as a “second stage” structural
redesign.[42] Of the ten flying and three non-
flying T-50 prototypes, the three non-flying
prototypes tested static flight loads, one each
for "first stage" and "second stage" structures,
and avionics integration. The first two flying
prototypes tested flight characteristics and
basic mechanical systems, and thus had no
mission systems. Testing of mission systems
such as the radar and electronic warfare suite
began from the third prototype onwards, with
each subsequent aircraft having slight
variations in the arrangement of avionics and
sensor systems.[150][151][152] The final pre-
production aircraft were equipped with full
mission systems and tested the overall
integrated avionics.[153]

By February 2014, the first phase of

preliminary trials, PI-1, had concluded;[N 10] in
the same month, the 929th GLITs received its
first T-50 at Akhtubinsk for further testing and
GSI state trials.[154][155][156] However, severe
issues were discovered during PI-1; in addition
to the structural issues, the aircraft suffered
from engine problems, including the AL-41F1
compressor stall during the MAKS-2011
airshow.[149][157] In June 2014, the fifth
prototype was severely damaged by an in-
flight fire and written off, and an incomplete
"first stage" airframe was finished using parts
salvaged from the fifth prototype.[N 8] Both
preliminary and state trials were delayed by the
fire and the structural redesign; the second
phase of preliminary trials, PI-2, ran from 2014
to 2019 and mainly used structurally reinforced
"first stage" aircraft while GSI-1 was halted
until 2016 in order to wait for the updated
"second stage" airframes. Armament trials
were also delayed, with external weapon trials
starting in May 2014 and internal trials starting
in March 2016.[158][159] GSI-1 was finished on 8
February 2018 with formal signing in May 2018.
[160][61] After more than 3,500 flights, GSI-2
was planned to be completed by 2019, but this
was pushed to 2020, partly because of the
crash of the first production aircraft in
December 2019.[149][161]

Su-57 solo display at ARMY-

2020 forum

As the Su-57 is gradually being inducted into

Russian military service, Sukhoi is testing
upgrades for the improved Su-57M variant.
First flight of the izdeliye 30 engine occurred
on 5 December 2017 with the second
prototype (T-50-2, bort no. 052).[162][163]
Prototypes were also used for unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) teaming tests with the Okhotnik
UCAV, with a video of flight tests released by
the Ministry of Defence on 27 September 2019.
[164] On 28 June 2020, TASS, with reference to
anonymous sources within the military-
industrial complex, reported that a 'swarm'
teaming experiment had been conducted with
a group of Su-35s and an Su-57 acting as a
command and control aircraft. The networked
information exchange significantly increases
the efficiency of combat missions. Reportedly,
the experiment was conducted in "real combat
conditions".[165][166][167]

Syrian combat evaluation …

On 21 February 2018, two Su-57s performed

their first international flight as they were
spotted landing at the Russian Khmeimim air
base in Syria. The aircraft were deployed along
with four Sukhoi Su-35 fighters, four Sukhoi
Su-25s, and one Beriev A-50 AEW&C aircraft.
[168] Three days later two more Su-57s were
reported to have arrived in Syria.[169] The
deployment was criticised by some experts as
overly risky, especially after reports of drone
attacks at Khmeimim air base, as well as having
limited value due to the short duration of only
several days. As the deployment overlapped
with Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day,
the purpose may have been to support the
president's state-of-the-nation speech.
Additionally, deployment of the aircraft in a
combat theatre may serve to enhance the
aircraft's marketing.[170][171][172][173] On 1
March 2018, the Russian Defence Minister
Sergey Shoygu stated that the two Su-57s had
spent two days in Syria and successfully
completed a trials program, including combat
trials during which parameters of weapons
work were monitored.[174][175] On 25 May 2018,
the Defence Ministry disclosed that during the
February 2018 deployment to Syria, a Su-57
fired a cruise missile in combat, likely a Kh-
59MK2.[176] On 18 November 2018, the
Defence Ministry posted an extended video of
the fighters' flights, and announced that Su-57
performed 10 flights during its deployment to
Syria.[177][178] However, the video did not
specify when the test flights took place.[179]

On 18 December 2019, the Chief of the Russian

General Staff, Valery Gerasimov said that
Russian Defence Ministry has once again
tested the Su-57 in Syria, and all tasks have
been successfully fulfilled.[180]

Entry into service …

On 25 December 2020, the Russian Defence

Ministry announced that the Su-57 had
entered service upon the delivery of the first
production aircraft to one of the aviation
regiments of the Southern Military District.
[1]The first fully operational Su-57 regiment of
24 aircraft is expected to be equipped by
2025.[181]

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

…
In May 2022, Russian sources claimed that Su-
57 fighters were used two or three weeks after
the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of
Ukraine, striking targets with missiles outside
of the zone of activity of Ukrainian air
defenses,[182] just like other Russian aircraft
that are also restricted mainly to Russian
airspace.[183]

In June 2022, RIA Novosti reported four Su-57s

working in a network were used in SEAD role
over Ukraine to identify and destroy Ukrainian
air defense systems. The source also noted
that its low radar visibility was demonstrated in
combat.[184]

On 19 October 2022, Russian army general

Sergey Surovikin, then commander of all
Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine, claimed that
the Su-57 has been used both in air-to-air and
air-to-ground role during the war in Ukraine
and that it has scored kills in both roles.[185]
Subsequently, some Russian sources claimed
the Su-57 shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 with a
long-range R-37 missile.[186] However, no
evidence for these claims have surfaced.[187]
[188] Commercial satellite imagery from late
December 2022 shows five Su-57s deployed at
Akhtubinsk air base, some 500 km from
Ukraine; British Defence Intelligence stated
that these aircraft operate solely in Russian
airspace to avoid reputational damage from
combat losses and compromise of sensitive
technology.[189][190]

Potential operators …
This section needs to be updated. The
Learn more
reason given is: section requires information
after the Russian invasion of Ukraine post-
In the early stages of the PAK FA programme,
India had planned to be one of the largest
foreign customers by procuring the FGFA
derivative. It originally planned on buying 166
single-seat and 48 two-seat fighters,[191] but
later changed it to 214 single-seat fighters,[192]
and later reduced its purchase to 144 fighters
by 2012.[193] In April 2018, India pulled out of
the FGFA project, which it believed did not
meet its requirements for stealth, combat
avionics, radars and sensors by that time.[32]
[194] Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Birender
Singh Dhanoa, during an interview with Russian
Ministry of Defence's official newspaper
Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star), stated that the
Su-57 is currently not being considered for the
service, but the combat aircraft can be
evaluated once it joins active service with the
Russian Aerospace Forces.[195][196] The
General Director of the United Aircraft
Corporation Yuri Slyusar however denied the
previous reports saying "the topic is not
closed" and that Russia and India are still
discussing the creation of the fifth-generation
fighter.[197][198] However, in October 2019, the
Indian Air Force Chief of Air Staff RKS
Bhadauria stated that the country will not be
importing stealth fighters like the Su-57, and
will instead focus on indigenous efforts such as
the HAL AMCA.[199]

Sukhoi states that the main export advantage

of the PAK FA is its lower cost than current US
fifth generation jet fighters.[200] Russia was
reported to be offering the PAK FA for South
Korea's next generation jet fighter.[201] South
Korea's Defense Acquisition Program
Administration (DAPA) stated that the Sukhoi
PAK FA was a candidate for the Republic of
Korea Air Force's next-generation fighter (F-X
Phase 3) aircraft;[202] however, Sukhoi did not
submit a bid by the January 2012 deadline.[203]
In 2013, Russia offered Brazil participation and
joint production in a next-generation fighter
based on the Su-57.[204][205] Instead of
Russian Su-57 and French Rafale, Brazil signed
an agreement with the Swedish Saab Group to
locally produce 36 Gripen E fighters for the
Brazilian Air Force.[206][207][208]

In May 2019, as Turkish participation in the F-

35 program was in doubt due to Turkey's
procurement of the S-400 missile system, CEO
of Rostec Sergey Chemezov said that Russia
was ready to cooperate with Turkey on the
export and local production of the Su-57.[209]
On 14 September 2019, an Su-57 took part in
the 2019 Technofest festival held in Istanbul.
[210] However, on 7 February 2020, President
Erdogan announced that the replacement of
the F-35 will not be Russian Su-57, but instead
will be the Turkish domestic fifth-generation
aircraft TF-X fighter.[211]

On 27 December 2019, Algeria signed a

contract for 14 aircraft as part of large military
deal that also includes the purchase of Su-34
and Su-35 fighters. This decision was
reportedly taken in summer 2019, when
Algerian delegation personally inspected the
Su-57 at the MAKS-2019 air show.[212][213][214]
Once Sukhoi fulfill domestic delivery
commitment, Algeria set to receive the first Su-
57E in 2028.[215][216]

It has been reported that Vietnam may become

a customer of the Su-57.[217] The country is
expected to acquire the fighters to replace its
aging fleet of 11 Su-27s. On 9 July 2021,
Vietnam announced its intention to buy Su-57
aircraft, but it is critical of the aircraft's
workmanship.[215][218][unreliable source?]

Russia has offered Su-57E fighters to the

United Arab Emirates during IDEX 2021.[215]
During the 2019 Dubai Air Show, Chemezov
talked about the possibility of "localization" of
portions of the Su-57 supply chain within other
countries that decide to buy those jets,
including "…United Arab Emirates, India or
Turkey…", depends on the capabilities of the
defense industrial base of the customer in
question.[219] However, the UAE has refrained
from signing a contract with Russia to avoid
CAATSA sanctions from the United States.[220]

In 2021, Iraqi military leadership including its

inspector for the Iraqi Ministry of Defence Imad
Al-Zuhairin stated the country's interest in the
Su-57.[221]

Variants

Operators

Accidents

Specifications (Su-57)

Notable appearances in
media

See also

References

External links

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