Summary and Key Points: The Sukhoi Su-57 is a fifth-generation Russian stealth fighter, designed for air superiority and attack roles, and intended to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27.

-Developed with India's collaboration, the Su-57 faced setbacks when India withdrew from the project in 2018. Despite boasting advanced features like supercruise, stealth capabilities, and sophisticated avionics, only a limited number of Su-57s are operational, primarily stationed at Lipetsk Air Base for further testing.

-The Su-57's limited deployment in the Ukraine conflict has raised questions about its effectiveness and suggests it might be too valuable and complex for extensive use in combat.

The Untested Power: Su-57's Role in Russia's Air Force

The Sukhoi Su-57 is a Russian stealth, also known as the PAK FA (the acronym in Russian stands for “Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation”). This is a single-seat, twin-engine multirole fifth-generation warplane designed for air superiority and attack operations. Basically, it is the challenger to the American F-22A Raptor or the F-35 Lightning II as well as the Chinese Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon.” The Su-57 was meant to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian Air Force.

Interestingly, like the American F-35, the Su-57 was developed between multiple countries. Well, in this case, one country, India. To help cut down on costs as well as to keep the Indians in Russia’s orbit geopolitically (India being key component of the Primakov Doctrine that has clearly defined Russian foreign policy since Vladimir Putin became president of Russia), Sukhoi partnered with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to ensure that the Su-57 became part of the Indian Air Force.

Sadly for Russia, in 2018, New Delhi withdrew itself from the project citing—and this is a key issue for Russia today—the fact that much of the “advanced” technologies promised by the Russian jet fighter were already becoming widely available to India. Thus, India preferred to develop their own fifth-generation warplane to challenge the Chinese, Americans, and even the Russians themselves. 

Welcome to the multipolar world, friends.

The Su-57 as a Fifth-Generation Warplane

The Su-57 was meant to be a true rival to the US Air Force’s fifth-generation warplanes. As such, these birds possess supercruise (this is when a plane enjoys high thrust-to-drag ratio, in other words flying for sustained periods of time at supersonic speeds). 

This bird is believed to have super-maneuverability, and advanced avionics to overcome the prior generation fighter aircraft as well as ground and naval defenses. The Su-57 incorporates all-digital flight controls, a glass cockpit, and a high degree of automation, including a new radar system, and is powered by two Saturn AL-41F1 engines.

Russia today has a limited number of Su-57 fighters in service. Production began in 2019 and it was believed there was only 32 of these birds. Since the Ukraine War erupted and the Su-57, these fighters are primarily stationed at the Lipetsk Air Base, where they are undergoing further testing and evaluation.

Because of their limited numbers and the problems of reproducing such complex machines en masse in the middle of Russia’s total war fever, the Su-57s have not made much of a difference in the contested skies over Ukraine. While many commentators point out that this is because the Su-57 does not work as well as the Russians advertised, it is likely also because, just as with Russia’s fabled T-14 Armata Main Battle Tank (MBT), these beautiful platforms are just that—too beautiful for combat. 

The Su-57: Too Expensive to Risk in War?

If the Su-57 is sparingly deployed in-theater, one will never its true capabilities. A few weeks back, Ukraine claimed to have blasted a Su-57 that was parked on the tarmac at its airbase. This has yet to be confirmed. If true, it still does not prove the Western theory that the Su-57 is as God-awful as so many are sloppily writing (I include myself in this group of sloppy assessments). 

At worst, the Su-57 is less of a fifth-generation warplane and more of a “fourth-generation++” bird. That still makes it a very lethal and angry bird. And up against whatever rickety old F-16s the Ukrainians may be deploying into combat soon, it is still a technically superior plane to the ones its adversaries can field in combat.

The Su-57 comes equipped with things like the N036 Byelka radar system, which can track up to 60 targets simultaneously and engage up to 16 targets. The aircraft also features a 30mm autocannon and can carry a wide array of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. 

Much to Ukraine’s credit, as the underdog in this fight, they have crafted some highly unorthodox and brilliant air defense tactics to fight against the Russian war machine. This, by the way, explains why the Russians are now deploying 6,600-pound bombs strapped to UPMK glide kits, to strain and ultimately break Ukraine’s air defenses. 

Given the attritional nature of Russia’s war and the favorable mismatch in resources and military sizes, Russia will win this one.

Beyond the adaptations that Russia’s military is taking, the Su-57 is supposedly equipped with electronic warfare (EW) countermeasures, stealth capabilities, and advanced avionics to further defend this valuable bird. 

Nevertheless, the Su-57’s combat record in Ukraine is not that deep or well-known. Clearly, Moscow doesn’t want to risk its prized warplane (which begs the question as to why it was even necessary to build this thing?)

What is the Su-57’s Purpose?

Thus, the Su-57, a highly advanced and capable warbird equipped with impressive performance characteristics and a wide range of weaponry, has not truly been tested in the crucible of combat. Therefore, its effectiveness as a modern warplane is not well known and its strengths and weaknesses not well understood. 

Given that the Ukrainians are not going to negotiate, and that the Russians are just going to bleed the Ukrainians dry until they cannot fight anymore (I give it six months to a year), there’s still time for the Su-57 to prove itself in combat.

Though, its expense and complexity—and the fact that it is few in number—make it less of a useful strategic asset and more of a liability. But Russia should take solace. Because there are a multitude of platforms in the West’s arsenals that are similarly too expensive to be risked in combat. Let that be a reminder for all modern forces that the newest, priciest, and shiniest platform is not always the best system for warmaking. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. 

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