You've probably seen the headlines. Some call it a "flying paper tiger," while others swear it’s the only thing that can actually touch an F-22 in a dogfight. Honestly, the Russian Su-57—codenamed "Felon" by NATO—is easily the most misunderstood piece of hardware in the sky today. It’s not just a plane; it’s a massive Rorschach test for aviation nerds and military analysts.
People love to argue about its stealth. Or lack of it.
The Stealth Argument Is Kinda Missing the Point
If you’re looking for a ghost that disappears from every radar screen like the F-117 did in the 90s, the Su-57 isn't that. It’s just not. While American fifth-gen philosophy is "don't get seen, don't get hit," the Russians took a different path. They basically built a "super-Flanker" with a stealthy skin.
Experts like Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute have pointed out for years that the Su-57 has a much larger radar cross-section (RCS) than the F-22 or F-35. We’re talking about 0.1 to 0.5 square meters compared to the Raptor’s 0.0001. That’s a huge gap. But here's the thing: Russia knows this. They aren't trying to out-stealth Lockheed Martin. Instead, they’re banking on supermaneuverability and a unique sensor suite to bridge the distance.
The jet uses something called LEVCONs—leading-edge vortex controllers. These are those big "flaps" on the front of the wing roots. They give the Felon insane control at high angles of attack. If a fight gets close and messy, the Su-57 is designed to dance. It can point its nose at a target while drifting sideways in a way that breaks the brains of most pilots flying traditional airframes.
What’s Under the Hood (Finally)
For years, the Su-57 was "faking it" with the AL-41F1 engines. Those are basically upgraded Su-35 engines. Great for 4.5-generation jets, but they didn't allow for true supercruise—the ability to fly supersonic without using fuel-guzzling afterburners.
As of early 2026, the game is changing. The new AL-51F1 (formerly known as the Izdeliye 30) is finally reaching the production line. This is the "Stage 2" engine that actually makes the Su-57 a fifth-generation fighter. It’s got more thrust, better fuel efficiency, and serrated nozzles that actually help with that rear-aspect stealth everyone keeps making fun of.
Real Combat: Is It Actually Flying in Ukraine?
This is where it gets spicy.
The Kremlin loves to claim the Su-57 is a "combat-proven" beast. In reality, their usage of the jet in the Ukraine conflict has been... conservative. You won't see Felons dogfighting over Kyiv. Instead, they’ve been used as "sniper" platforms.
- Stand-off strikes: They fly inside Russian-controlled airspace, use their advanced L-band radars to peek across the border, and lob long-range missiles like the R-37M.
- The S-70 Incident: In late 2024, an Su-57 had to shoot down its own "loyal wingman" drone, the S-70 Okhotnik, after it malfunctioned and headed toward Ukrainian lines. It was a weird, public display of the jet's capability—and its growing pains.
- Radar Evasion: Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov recently claimed the jet has been successfully evading Western-made air defenses. Whether that's true or just marketing for the Su-57E export variant is still up for debate.
The reality is that Russia only has about 22 to 30 combat-ready airframes. When you only have two dozen of your best toy, you don't risk them over a dense SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) bush. You keep them back. You use them to test sensors. You keep the PR win of "zero losses" alive as long as possible.
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The Numbers Game
By the end of 2024, production at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant finally started to find its rhythm. They delivered a batch of about a dozen jets in a single year, which is a massive jump from the one or two they were eking out back in 2020. The goal is still 76 aircraft by 2027.
Will they hit it? Sanctions on microelectronics make that a "maybe." Russia has been forced to "Russify" almost every component, from the mission computers to the LCD displays in the cockpit.
Why Algeria Is Buying It
While India backed out of the joint program years ago (they weren't happy with the stealth or the engine progress), Algeria has reportedly stepped up. They’ve allegedly ordered 14 of the export-ready Su-57E.
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Why? Because for a country that doesn't have access to the F-35, the Su-57 is the next best thing. It carries a massive internal payload. It flies faster and farther than almost anything else in the region. And honestly, it looks terrifying on a radar screen compared to a standard Su-30.
The Side-Looking Radar Secret
Most fighters have one radar in the nose. The Su-57 has six.
There are the main X-band arrays, but also L-band arrays embedded in the wing leading edges. These L-band sensors are specifically designed to detect stealth aircraft. They aren't precise enough to guide a missile, but they tell the pilot exactly where an F-22 is hiding. It’s a "counter-stealth" philosophy that the West is only now starting to take really seriously.
Actionable Insights for Aviation Observers
If you're tracking the Su-57, don't get bogged down in the "F-22 vs. Su-57" YouTube debates. Those are mostly fantasy. Instead, watch these specific markers to see if the jet is actually becoming the threat Russia claims it is:
- Tail Numbers: Watch for the "01 Blue" style numbers on new deliveries. It tells us which regiments are being equipped. Currently, the 23rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment is the primary home for these birds.
- The Exhaust: If you see a photo of a Felon with round, "old-school" nozzles, it's still running the interim engine. If the nozzles look "toothed" or serrated, that’s the Stage 2 AL-51F1. That’s the version that actually matters.
- Weapon Bay Doors: Recent footage from late 2025 showed the internal bays finally launching Kh-58UShK anti-radiation missiles. This proves the jet can actually perform its "wild weasel" SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) role without carrying draggy pods on its wings.
The Russian Su-57 isn't a failure, but it isn't the world-beater the propaganda suggests either. It’s a transition. It’s Russia trying to figure out how to fight a 21st-century war while their industrial base is still stuck in a 20th-century supply chain.
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To stay ahead of the curve on this, you should keep an eye on the UAC (United Aircraft Corporation) quarterly delivery reports. They've become surprisingly transparent about "batches" being handed over to the Ministry of Defense lately. Also, follow satellite imagery analysts like those at MT_Anderson on X (Twitter)—they usually spot the new airframes on the tarmac at Akhtubinsk or Lipetsk long before the official press releases drop.