The Sukhoi Su-57 Felon was designed to be Russia’s ambitious but eventual nasty step into the world of fifth-generation stealth fighters, a plane full of systems that would have been new not only in Russia but worldwide, and that was expected to reestablish Russian aerospace pride and challenge the American F-22 and F-35 directly. Instead of rewriting the air combat code, the Felon has been weighed down for years, mired in delays, production troubles, and skepticism about its effectiveness in practice.
Conceptually, the Su-57 was born in the early 2000s under the PAK FA program. The aim was more than just to dominate the sky but also to send precise ground hits and even carry out reconnaissance jobs. The engineers made it with a stealthy silhouette, abundant use of composite materials, weapons loaded inside, and quite modern avionics, all of which were supposed to be a breakthrough from what Russia has previously fielded.
The aircraft was additionally designed to market its capabilities through its agility, which is a major factor. It was a plane suited for tight acrobatics, which were supported by the advanced systems, many of which were compared to having an electronic co-pilot onboard. A network of radar sensors that were buried extensively throughout the airplane gave the promise of a wide area of coverage, while data links and AI features were expected to help pilots make quick, informed choices in battles that move quickly.
The Su-57 does the job quite impressively, according to the technical specifications. It can go up to Mach 2, have a range of more than 2000 miles per mission, and it can be armed with future-generation weapons, including hypersonic missiles, among other things. Its design, combined with the radar-absorbing coatings and the concealed engines, is supposed to turn it into a hard target for enemy radar, especially from the front. In theory, it seemed to have ticked all the boxes of a fifth-generation fighter.
Nonetheless, the reality has been quite different. Sanctions severed Russia’s supply of essential parts such as highly developed electronics and materials needed for stealth, thus making it easier for the enemy to detect and destroy the aircraft. The whole concept of f foreign-influenced radar system made the Su-57 particularly susceptible. The efforts in technology substitution for the missing ones have slowed down production and caused doubts about whether Russia would be able to build the fighter in sufficient numbers.
This also clarifies why today only a small number of Su-57s are flying. By the end of 2024, a little over 20 jets had been delivered in total, including trials. Mass production is always delayed, and each airframe is considered a treasure. When one was damaged in an incident in the Astrakhan region, it was made clear how difficult and costly these planes are to replace. While huge investments in the Su-57 project are being poured into R&D, the Russian air force is still relying on aircraft like the Su-30 and Su-35 that are quite capable and mature, to the largest extent, to take over the missions.
Operational use has been limited to the same extent as well. In the war zone that is Ukraine, the Russian air force has kept its few units of Felons away from the hot zone, thus avoiding any confrontations where there is a risk of the loss of such expensive and rare aircraft.
The risk of losing such an expensive and rare aircraft and the embarrassment that comes with it is what has kept the Su-57 on the sidelines. Consequently, although they lag in terms of stealth and the new design promised tech, the old aircraft are the ones that are heavily relied upon for missions.
Definitely, the export narrative of Su-57 has not been any better. Algeria brought a small batch of the specially made Su-57E version only, and since then, there have not been any notable breakthroughs. As a matter of fact, the former project partner country, India, pulled out several years ago over concerns about stealth performance and electronics. There is also a problem of low quality in the Promoting event, which has had the effect of further lowering buyers’ eagerness to invest.
When compared to Western rivals, the difference is so obvious. The United States has already gotten thousands of F-35s that are produced at a very fast rate, are supported by a vast supply chain, and have been battle-tested. Even though it is a little bit old, the F-22 is still the measure for stealth and air dominance. The Su-57, on the other hand, has yet to establish that it is on the same level as them.
Despite the Su-57 situation, the Felol remains a vital element in the Russian military plan that is long-term. Apart from being a combatant on the battlefield, it is a symbol of ambition and prestige. Nevertheless, the Su-57 is still heavily hindered by production bottlenecks, sanctions, and limited deployments, and so, it is likely to be remembered less as a revolutionary fighter and more as a high-profile project that never really materialized. At the moment, the Russian flagship stealth jet is struggling hard to take off completely.