Thanks to a series of images recently viralized on social media, a new glimpse of the work being carried out on the assembly line of Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets has been revealed. The photos show at least two units of the Russian stealth fighter, which have likely already been delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The Su-57 is the crown jewel of Russian combat aviation, being the most advanced model in service. However, the low production rate has limited the expansion of the Su-57 fleet, which currently comprises only a few dozen units.
The most recent update on Su-57 deliveries occurred in mid-September, when United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced the delivery of a new batch of Su-57s to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). This batch marks the first delivery reported in 2024, raising questions about the progress of the fighter’s production.
The low production rate of the Su-57 could be due to a shortage of critical components, a situation possibly resulting from Western sanctions. This hypothesis, posed by several analysts, may have exacerbated issues on the production line, which has not progressed according to the milestones previously outlined by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Regarding the latest batch of Su-57s delivered to the VKS, while the manufacturer did not provide many details, the group is believed to consist of three units. The last recorded delivery took place in December 2023.
Yuri Slyusar, a UAC executive, previously stated that “…The number of fifth-generation fighters entering the Russian Aerospace Forces increases every year. Today, the advanced fifth-generation Su-57 aviation complex is the most modern aircraft in Russia’s tactical aviation…”
Although there is no official record of deliveries since serial production of the Su-57 began, aside from contracts with stipulated figures, the Russian Aerospace Forces are estimated to have a fleet of just around 30 Su-57s, including test and production models. It’s worth noting that at least two units were severely damaged and destroyed in separate accidents, while reports a few months ago indicated that one or two Su-57s were damaged or destroyed by Ukrainian drones.
To provide a comparison of Su-57 production with its Chinese and Western counterparts, it was recently mentioned that the number of fifth-generation fighters delivered to the VKS is far lower than those of the F-35 and the Chinese J-20. In the case of the U.S.-made Lightning II, more than 1,000 units have been delivered across its three variants by 2024. Meanwhile, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force is reported to have received around 300 J-20 units.
Although not officially acknowledged, this situation has prompted UAC to undertake various initiatives aimed at increasing Su-57 production. One of the most recent efforts includes the expansion of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aviation plant, encompassing new “…buildings for testing the fuel system, as well as the completion of the first phase of constructing a hangar for testing onboard radio-electronic equipment (BREO), in order to scale up serial aircraft production,” according to a statement from late August.
Cover image: UAC.
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