Russia Receives Enhanced Su-57 Fighter Jets Amid Ukraine Conflict

Russia’s military has acquired upgraded versions of the Su-57 fighter jet, its most advanced in-service stealth aircraft. The Su-57 has played a minor role in the Kremlin’s extended military operation in Ukraine. Moscow’s state-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced on Thursday the delivery of a batch of newly enhanced Su-57 fighters to Russia’s air force. The defense ministry confirmed the receipt of the new jets, mentioning a ‘new technical design’ but did not specify the number of jets or the exact improvements made.

The Su-57 is lauded by Russia as a sophisticated, difficult-to-detect jet, considered by Moscow to be comparable to U.S. F-35s and F-22s. However, many Western aviation experts question its stealth capabilities. Russia’s Rostec defense giant – controlling the UAC – plans to modify existing Su-57s to include a ‘second cockpit’ for drone control.

Rostec aims to integrate ‘sixth-generation technologies’ into the Su-57, referencing cutting-edge designs in development globally for the next generation of fighter jets. Sixth-generation jets are anticipated to be the most expensive and heavily reliant on unmanned technologies. These jets are expected to be surrounded by cheaper drones that can undertake hazardous tasks, minimizing risks to pilots and the valuable jets.

Despite these advancements, Western experts, like Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute, doubt Russia’s potential to compete with sophisticated jet programs pursued by the U.S. and nations like China. In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Moscow has utilized its Su-57 for long-range strikes. Analysts have deemed its performance ineffective and note Russia’s reluctance to risk its limited number of prized jets in Kyiv.

An unnamed Su-57 pilot, quoted by Russian sources, praised the aircraft’s performance during what Russia terms a ‘special military operation,’ referencing its full-scale invasion of Ukraine commencing in February 2022. The UAC stated that the new jets have undergone factory testing, with Russian Defense Ministry personnel piloting them.

UAC CEO Vadim Badekha emphasized the importance of meeting state defense orders and improving production processes in collaboration with Rostec companies. Despite these efforts, Moscow’s production of Su-57 jets has been sluggish, hindered by the demands of its continued war efforts in Ukraine.

According to experts from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russia possessed at least 21 Su-57s by the start of 2026. Ukraine claimed to have damaged a Su-57 in June 2024, marking the first strike against this jet. Ukrainian drones reportedly damaged two Su-57s in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region – about 1,700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border – in a late April strike.

Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber released an image of what appeared to be the Su-57D in May, with the prototype undergoing flight tests after its first twin-seater version took off in May. In July, Russian media reported a Su-57 crash near Moscow during training. The defense ministry confirmed a training aircraft crash in the area, noting the pilot ejected safely without specifying the aircraft type.

Russia has employed Su-57 jets to launch missiles at Ukrainian drones targeting Russian infrastructure, as reported by Ukrainian media. This suggests Moscow uses its advanced jets to counter UAVs costing mere tens of thousands of dollars.