Sukhoi Su-57
| Su-57 | |
|---|---|
| 4th Su-57 prototype T-50-4 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Stealth multirole fighter |
| National origin | Russia |
| Manufacturer | United Aircraft Corporation |
| Designer | Sukhoi |
| Built by | Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant |
| Status | In production |
| Primary users | Russian Aerospace Forces |
| Number built | 42+ (including 10 prototypes) as of 2026 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 2019–present |
| Introduction date | 2020 |
| First flight | 29 January 2010 |
| Variant | Sukhoi/HAL FGFA (cancelled) |
The Sukhoi Su-57 (Russian: Сухой Су-57; NATO reporting name: Felon) is a twin-engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi. It is the product of the PAK FA (Russian: ПАК ФА, prospective aeronautical complex of front-line aviation) programme, which was initiated in 1999 as a more modern and affordable alternative to the MFI (Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42). Sukhoi's internal designation for the aircraft is T-50. The Su-57 is the first aircraft in Russian military service designed with stealth technology and is intended to be the basis for a family of stealth combat aircraft.
A multirole fighter capable of aerial combat as well as ground and maritime strike, the Su-57 incorporates stealth, supermaneuverability, supercruise, integrated avionics and large payload capacity. According to the US, it will be nuclear-capable via a forthcoming missile similar to the Kinzhal. The aircraft is expected to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian military service and has also been marketed for export. The first prototype aircraft flew in 2010, but the program experienced a protracted development due to various structural and technical issues that emerged during trials, including the destruction of the first production aircraft in a crash before its delivery.
In 2018, during the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war, at least two Su-57 prototypes were first deployed and used in combat. After repeated delays, the first Su-57 entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in December 2020. It has reportedly been sporadically used in Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.