The Sukhoi Su-57 Felon was built to be Russia’s response to the future generation of stealth fighters — a cutting-edge aircraft to restore Russian aerospace dominance and be equal with the world’s best Western planes, including the F-22 and F-35. Instead of soaring into the skies, though, the Su-57 has experienced a rough ride, featuring production problems, delays, and continued uncertainty about its role in modern military airpower.
It was initiated in the early 2000s as a project of the PAK FA with the dream of developing a multi-role fighter that would dominate air-to-air combat, attack targets on the ground, and also be used for reconnaissance. Stealth technology, composite structure with less weight, concealed weapons bays, and cutting-edge avionics were incorporated into the design to fulfill those lofty aspirations.
Su-57 was designed to be very agile, with sophisticated systems by some accounts possessing an “electronic co-pilot.” Radar sensors were placed on the airframe in a network that enabled it to scan for targets in more than one direction at once.
Artificial intelligence was used in the communications and data systems of the plane to assist the pilots in quickly processing information and making better decisions when things get complicated. Russian engineers claimed that this setup could transmit encoded data at high speeds, which would make reconnaissance and combat operations more efficient.
In theory, the Su-57 is intimidating. It can be more than twice as fast as sound, fly more than 2,000 miles without refueling, and has space to carry hypersonic and guided missiles. Its radar sensors can detect multiple targets simultaneously, while onboard AI can adapt and develop strategies based on mission success or failure.
Its thin, angular profile, radar-absorbing camouflage coatings, and internal engine mounting were all designed to make it short on radar, particularly from the head-on direction.
But the actual picture is more complicated. Western sanctions have kept Russia out of the sophisticated electronics and materials needed to achieve complete stealth. The radar system of the plane, which was originally modeled on German designs, has been especially difficult to replace. Alternatives have been difficult to come by, so there is uncertainty about the consistency of performance.
Few Su-57s work for this reason. At the end of 2024, about 22 aircraft were transferred, tested, and serially produced. Expansion in production now seems not to be achievable. Every Su-57 is worth gold — when an Su-57 was lost in the Astrakhan region, it was a huge loss of valuable high-tech potential. These jets are costly and time-consuming to maintain, and Russia keeps manufacturing more proven aircraft such as the Su-30SM2 and Su-35S to meet operational needs.
In the conflict in Ukraine, the Su-57 has only made an appearance in token amounts. Russia has not sent its scarce aircraft into disputed airspace for fear of losing valuable technology and tarnishing the image of the planes. Old aircraft, as poor as they are, are more plentiful and easier to maintain, and they have filled gaps at lower risk.
Sales of the Su-57 have also been sluggish. Algeria was the first customer, buying six Su-57E planes with pilots being trained by Russia, and talks on potential follow-on orders. India, which had initially wanted to co-produce a fighter plane with Russia, pulled back in 2018 due to stealth and electronics problems. The credibility of the plane has also been tarnished through publicly visible malfunctions during flight tests and doubts over production standards.
In contrast to American competitors, the weaknesses of the Su-57 are apparent. The Americans have already manufactured more than a thousand F-35s with a massive supply chain and demanding standards for quality. The F-22 and F-35 have already set stealth, sensor, and readiness for operation, while the Su-57 remains perceived as developing its technology and combat potential.
In spite of these issues, the Su-57 remains at the center of Russian long-term strategy. The fighter is regarded as a national prestige issue and a means of keeping pace with other powers. But with sanctions still in place and problems with production, the fighter can be more of a prestige program than it can be a game-changer. As the world waits, the Su-57 continues to struggle to make itself heard on the battlefield and in the air.
