Russia bets on modernised SU‑57s despite production hurdles
Rostec President Sergey Chemezov announced that the Russian corporation United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) plans to increase the production of Su-57 fighters for the Russian armed forces and export. According to him, the Su-57, which the Russians present as a fifth-generation aircraft, is undergoing modernisation and is now "significantly different" from its original version.
United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), part of the state conglomerate Rostec, has announced plans to boost production and delivery of fifth-generation Su-57 fighters for the Russian armed forces. Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov communicated this information on Wednesday.
Russians to increase Su-57 production
Chemezov emphasised that the Su-57 is undergoing modernisation and is currently "significantly different" from its original version, which first took to the skies 15 years ago. Despite Chemezov's optimism, the Bulgarian military service notes that it remains unclear whether Russia will actually manage to increase Su-57 production. So far, only a small number of these aircraft have been produced, and sanctions imposed on the Russian aviation industry raise doubts about the availability of key components.
Russia is actively promoting the Su-57 for export, yet sales are limited. Algeria, which has expressed interest in the aircraft for years, is a potential client, but no contracts have been finalised. Meanwhile, the Su-57's main competitors, such as the American F-35 and the Chinese J-20, are being produced on a much larger scale.
The Sukhoi Su-57 is a fifth-generation Russian fighter developed by the Sukhoi design bureau. It is described as a multi-role aircraft capable of engaging in combat at long and short distances and carrying out strike missions on ground targets. The Su-57 prototype, originally known as the PAK FA (T-50), first took to the skies on 29 January 2010.
Although Russian propaganda repeatedly promised mass production and rapid deployment, the aircraft's development has encountered numerous problems, from issues related to stealth technology to unsatisfactory engine performance. The first serial units entered the Russian Air Force only in December 2020, and their numbers remain limited.
The Su-57 is approximately 66 feet long and has a wingspan of 46 feet. It is powered by two AL-41F1 turbofan engines, which will be replaced in the future by a new unit known as "Product 30." Currently, the engines allow a maximum speed of around 1.52 Ma (approximately 1,600 mph) and enable supersonic cruise speed without afterburner—a key feature for fifth-generation fighters. The Su-57's combat range is about 932 miles, and its total range without air refuelling is about 2,175.
The aircraft's design has been developed with reduced radar detectability in mind, although experts point out that the effectiveness of Russian stealth remains in question. The aircraft has advanced avionics, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and electronic warfare systems. It can carry various armaments, including medium and long-range air-to-air missiles, cruise missiles, and guided bombs.
