Russia ramps up Su‑57 production with new Komsomolsk-on-Amur facilities

The Russians are striving to bolster the production capabilities of their fifth-generation Su-57 Felon fighters. New facilities have been established at the Aviation Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, responsible for manufacturing these aircraft. According to Defence Blog, this is merely the beginning of investments in this area, which are set to enhance Russia's combat capabilities.

At the Aviation Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur (KnAAZ), a unique building for testing the aircraft's fuel system has been constructed, among other initiatives. The Russians have also completed the first phase of creating a hangar designed for testing and integrating onboard radio-electronic equipment. Defence Blog reports that the investments will continue, and the Russians plan to build new facilities.

Alexander Pekarsh, the director of the United Aviation Corporation (UAC) branch in KnAAZ, believes that these efforts will help increase the efficiency and technological advancement of Su-57 production. This, in turn, will enable meeting the Russian Ministry of Defence's requirements in the field of Su-57 fighter production. Currently, these fighters are sporadically used for combat missions over Ukraine.

"The technical re-equipment and expansion of the production at the Komsomolsk plant is part of a long-term investment program, involving significant state funding as well as investments from the corporation itself," said Yuri Slyusar, head of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), as quoted by Defence Blog.

The Su-57 (NATO code Felon) is a Russian fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It was developed in response to the American Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) programme and the American F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter. The aircraft first flew in 2010, but it was only in 2019, after years of testing and prototype improvements, that the Russian Ministry of Defence signed a contract to deliver 76 Su-57 fighters, expecting deliveries to be completed by 2028. At that time, Putin presented the Su-57 as "the best military aircraft in the world."

The Su-57 is a twin-engine air superiority fighter built in a conventional configuration. Its length is approximately 20 metres, and its wingspan is nearly 15. Two Saturn AL-41F turbofan engines power the aircraft. The empty mass of the Su-57 is approximately 18,000 kilograms, with a maximum takeoff weight of around 35,000 kilograms. The primary armament of the fighter is a 30 mm 9A-4071K cannon. The Su-57 also has six internal and six external weapon hardpoints for carrying various armaments, including the R-77, R-37M and Kh-69 cruise missiles. The Su-57 is often referred to as the most advanced Russian aircraft.