You’ve probably seen the videos of the Su-57 "Felon" doing those wild, physics-defying flips at airshows. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. But honestly, if you peel back the layers of the Russian 5th gen fighter jet program, you find a story that is way more complicated than just cool stunts. It’s a mix of genuine engineering brilliance and some pretty staggering industrial failures.
Russia wants the world to believe the Su-57 is the pinnacle of modern warfare. Critics? They call it a "stealth-ish" 4th-generation plane in a fancy suit.
The truth is somewhere in the middle. As of early 2026, the Su-57 remains the most controversial aircraft in the sky.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Su-57
Most folks assume "5th generation" means one thing: stealth.
If it’s not invisible to radar, it’s a failure, right? Well, that’s the American philosophy. The F-22 and F-35 were designed to be "ghosts." They find you, they kill you, and you never even saw a blip on your screen.
Russia took a different path.
The Su-57 was built for super-maneuverability. It’s basically a flying gymnast. The idea is that if a stealth fight turns into a close-range dogfight—what pilots call "the phone booth"—the Russian jet will dance circles around anything the West has. It uses 3D thrust vectoring, meaning the engine nozzles can point in different directions to force the plane into turns that would snap the wings off other jets.
But here is the kicker.
The radar cross-section (RCS) of the Su-57 is reportedly around 0.5 square meters. For comparison, the F-22 is estimated at 0.0001. That’s not a small difference. It’s the difference between looking like a bird on radar and looking like a flying truck.
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The Production Nightmare
You can have the best jet in the world, but it doesn't matter if you only have twenty of them.
Lockheed Martin delivered nearly 200 F-35s in 2025 alone. Total global fleet? Over 1,000.
Russia? They’re struggling. As we sit here in 2026, analysts like Peter Suciu and groups like IISS estimate Russia has maybe 32 Su-57s in total. And that includes the early prototypes that aren't even combat-rated.
- Sanctions are the silent killer. High-end microchips and specialized sensors are hard to get when you’re cut off from global markets.
- The 76-unit dream. The Kremlin promised 76 jets by 2028. At the current rate of 2 or 3 a year, they’ll be lucky to hit that by 2035.
- Cost. Each one costs between $50 million and $100 million. For a country funding a massive ground war, that’s a lot of rubles.
The Engine Problem: Finally Solved?
For years, the Su-57 was flying with the "wrong" engines. They were using the AL-41F1, which is basically an upgraded version of what’s in the older Su-35. It was fine, but it didn't allow for true "supercruise"—flying at supersonic speeds without using thirsty afterburners.
Enter the AL-51F1 (formerly known as Izdeliye 30).
This is the "real" 5th-gen engine. It’s got more thrust, better fuel economy, and—most importantly—serrated nozzles to help with stealth. There were reports in late 2025 that new production models are finally shipping with these. It changes the math a bit. If Russia can actually mass-produce these engines, the Su-57 becomes a much more dangerous predator.
Combat in Ukraine: Myth vs. Reality
Did the Su-57 actually fight in Ukraine?
Yes, but not like you’d think. You won’t see them dogfighting over Kyiv. Instead, the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) use them as "stand-off" snipers.
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In mid-2024, a Su-57 was famously caught on camera shooting down its own "loyal wingman" drone, the S-70 Okhotnik, after it malfunctioned. Beyond that, they mostly fire long-range missiles like the Kh-59MK2 from deep within Russian airspace.
Why? Because losing one would be a PR disaster. If a Su-57 gets downed by a decades-old Patriot battery, the "invincible" aura vanishes instantly.
The Su-75 Checkmate: A Brother in Arms?
We can't talk about the Su-57 without mentioning its smaller, cheaper sibling: the Su-75 Checkmate.
Unveiled at the Dubai Airshow a few years back, the Checkmate is supposed to be the "budget" stealth fighter for countries that can't afford (or aren't allowed to buy) the F-35. Think Algeria, India, or maybe Malaysia.
The Current Status of the Checkmate (2026):
- It hasn't flown yet.
- Sukhoi’s chief test pilot, Sergey Bogdan, says the first flight is "early 2026."
- It's a single-engine design, which is riskier but cheaper.
- It’s mostly a marketing play right now.
Honestly, the Su-75 is a massive gamble. Russia needs an export hit to fund its own air force, but most buyers are skeptical until they see the thing actually stay in the air.
Su-57 vs. The World: The Specs
If you're a numbers person, here is how the Su-57 roughly stacks up against its rivals. Take these with a grain of salt—military stats are notoriously "flexible."
The Su-57 hits a top speed of Mach two. It can fly up to 65,000 feet, which is actually higher than the F-22. Its range is massive, over 3,000 miles, making it great for patrolling the enormous Russian border.
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But when you look at the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the N036 Byelka, Western experts argue it’s still a step behind the American AN/APG-81. It can track a lot of targets, but can it see a "stealthy" target before that target sees it?
That is the multi-billion dollar question.
Is it a "Flop" or a "Future"?
It’s easy to dunk on the Su-57. The production delays are real. The stealth issues are documented. The "wood screws" seen on early prototypes became a meme in aviation circles.
But dismissing it entirely is a mistake.
The Su-57 is a very capable missile truck with insane agility. In a "messy" war where electronic warfare is jamming everything, that raw performance and the ability to fire long-range R-37M missiles (which can hit targets 200 miles away) makes it a threat.
It’s not an F-22 clone. It’s a different tool for a different kind of war.
What to Watch For Next
If you want to know if the Russian 5th gen fighter jet is actually succeeding, don't listen to the Ministry of Defense press releases. Look at two things:
- Export Deals: If Algeria actually takes delivery of the Su-57E (the export version), it means the plane is stable enough for foreign pilots.
- The "Flat Nozzle": Watch the engine exhausts. If you start seeing the flat, F-22 style nozzles instead of the round ones, Russia has finally mastered the materials science needed for true stealth.
The Su-57 isn't going away. Whether it becomes the backbone of the Russian fleet or remains an expensive airshow curiosity depends entirely on whether Moscow can fix its factory lines. Until then, it's a "5th gen" fighter with a lot of 4th gen baggage.
Actionable Insights for Defense Observers:
To stay ahead of the curve on Russian aviation, track the delivery of the AL-51F1 engines through satellite imagery of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft plant. This is the only way to verify if "serial production" is actually happening. Additionally, monitor Indian defense procurement news; if New Delhi remains out of the Su-57 program, it signals continued lack of confidence in the jet's stealth and sensor fusion capabilities.