Sukhoi Su-57 Felon — History, Specs & Stories

Sukhoi Su-57 Felon in flight
Aircraft Museum › Stealth fighter › Su-57

Sukhoi Su-57
“Felon”

Russia’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter — heavily promoted, built in small numbers, and still largely unproven in open sources. An ambitious design whose real-world capability is best read with caution rather than taken from the sales pitch.

2010First flight (as the T-50)
~Mach 2Top speed (figures contested)
1Confirmed operator (Russia)
~22–40Serial jets built (disputed)
Photo: Anna Zvereva · CC BY-SA 2.0
RoleFifth-gen stealth multirole fighterEra2020 – presentEngine2 × Saturn AL-41F1 (izdeliye 117)OriginRussia · Sukhoi / UACStatusActive frontline fighterCan a civilian fly the Su-57?
The Story

The Su-57: ambition, advertised

The Su-57 is Russia’s first stealth fighter — and its most heavily marketed, least battle-proven one. It grew out of the PAK FA programme, Moscow’s post-Soviet answer to the American F-22, with Sukhoi selected as lead over Mikoyan in 2002 and the prototype designated T-50. On paper it is a genuine leap for Russian aviation: internal weapons bays, a blended low-observable planform, thrust-vectoring supermaneuverability and a claimed sensor-fusion suite. The story that actually defines it, though, is the gap between advertisement and reality.

Development ran long and troubled. Structural-fatigue problems, an early Indian co-development partner that later walked away, and Western sanctions all slowed progress. The first serial aircraft was lost in a crash in December 2019, before delivery; the Russian Aerospace Forces received their first operational Su-57 only in December 2020. Production has stayed slow — credible tallies cluster at a disputed few dozen airframes by 2026, against hundreds of American F-35s.

Independent analysts widely judge its stealth shaping and finish less refined than Western fifth-generation jets, and its combat use over Ukraine has, by most open-source accounts, been cautious stand-off missile launches from inside Russian airspace rather than penetrating stealth strikes. None of that is settled fact in the way Russian state media presents it — and neither are the Ukrainian counter-claims. The honest read sits between the two: an ambitious, still-maturing programme wrapped in unusually loud promotion.

Impressive claims, thin independent verification — the Felon is best judged as a work in progress, not a proven world-beater.Propaganda vs proof — reading the Su-57 honestly
01The Su-57’s numbers: how many Felons really exist?

Production figures for the Su-57 are genuinely disputed. Open-source estimates for delivered serial aircraft by 2026 range from roughly 22 to 40 airframes — a spread that reflects how little independently verified data exists. Russia has stated a target of about 76 jets by the late 2020s, but that is an ambition, not an achievement, and earlier targets have already slipped.

Whatever the exact number, the scale point holds: sanctions and industrial constraints have kept the Su-57 fleet tiny next to the hundreds of F-35s in Western and allied service. Any comparison of the two should start there. Treat single precise production figures with caution — the range is the honest answer.

Design & Engineering

What the Su-57 is built to do

01

Reduced-signature design (contested degree)

The Su-57 has a faceted forward fuselage, internal main and side weapons bays, radar-absorbent treatments and aligned edges — features intended to reduce its radar signature. Independent experts, however, widely judge it less stealthy than the F-22 or F-35, pointing to visible rivets, exposed engine faces and gaps. It is best described as designed for a reduced signature, not as F-22-class stealth.

02

Supermaneuverability

Thrust-vectoring nozzles, relaxed stability and a large lifting body give the Su-57 extreme high-alpha, post-stall agility — a Sukhoi signature familiar from the Flanker family and a staple of MAKS airshow displays. Spectacular to watch, though analysts caution that airshow agility is not the same as an advantage against modern radar and long-range missiles.

03

Engines and sensors — still maturing

Serial jets fly on twin Saturn AL-41F1 (izdeliye 117) turbofans derived from the Su-35’s. The definitive engine — izdeliye 30 / AL-51F1, promising more thrust and true supercruise — has been slow to enter series. Paired with the N036 Byelka AESA radar and claimed multi-sensor fusion, the capability figures are largely Russian-stated and should be treated with caution.

02The Su-57’s stealth: why experts hedge the claims

Stealth is not a single number, and the Su-57’s is hard to assess from the outside. Its shaping reduces radar return from some aspects, and it carries its main weapons internally — both genuine low-observable measures. But visible surface detail, the treatment of its engine inlets and exhausts, and gaps in its finish have led many Western analysts to rate it below the F-22 and F-35 in all-aspect stealth. Crucially, no independent open-source measurement exists, and Russian capability claims are promotional. The responsible framing is “designed for reduced signature, real-world performance unverified” — not the peer-to-Western-stealth billing Moscow prefers.

03The Su-57’s engine problem: still flying on interim power

The Su-57 was designed around a new engine, the izdeliye 30 (AL-51F1), promising more thrust and true supercruise. That engine has been slow to reach series production, so serial aircraft continue to fly on the AL-41F1 (izdeliye 117), an evolution of the Su-35’s powerplant. Until the definitive engine is fielded in numbers, the jet arguably operates on interim power — one more reason to treat headline performance figures, especially supercruise claims, as targets rather than demonstrated facts.

Technical Data

Su-57 specifications (estimated & contested)

Most Su-57 figures are Russian-stated or Western-estimated and are not independently verified. Treat the numbers below as approximate.

Airframe & Performance

Crew
1
Length
~20.1 m
Wingspan
~14.1 m
Height
~4.6 m
Max takeoff weight
~35,000 kg (disputed)
Max speed
~Mach 2 (contested)
Supercruise
~Mach 1.3–1.6 (claimed)
Service ceiling
~20,000 m
Range
~3,500 km subsonic (estimate)

Propulsion & Systems

Engine
2 × Saturn AL-41F1 (izdeliye 117)
Thrust
~93 kN dry / ~147 kN reheat (each)
Cannon
1 × 30 mm GSh-30-1
Weapons
Internal bays: R-77M / R-37M AAMs, Kh-59MK2 / Kh-38M
First flight
29 January 2010 (T-50)
Built
~22–40 serial (disputed)
Unit cost
~US$35–50M (unverified)
Cost per flight hour
No reliable public figure
04The Su-57’s cost: why the price tag is hard to trust

Public cost figures for the Su-57 should be read sceptically. Russian sources cite unit prices in the region of US$35–50 million, strikingly low for a fifth-generation fighter; Western estimates tend to run higher, and none are independently audited. Currency effects, sanctions, small production runs and state accounting all distort the picture. No credible cost-per-flight-hour figure exists in open sources at all. As with the jet’s capability claims, the honest position is that the true economics of the Su-57 are not publicly known.

Timeline

The Su-57 from PAK FA to today

1999

PAK FA launched

Russia launches the PAK FA programme — a next-generation fighter to answer the American F-22.

2002

Sukhoi selected

Sukhoi is chosen as lead over Mikoyan; the prototype is designated T-50.

2010

First flight

The T-50 makes its maiden flight on 29 January at Komsomolsk-on-Amur, with test pilot Sergey Bogdan.

2011

Public debut

The new fighter is shown publicly at the MAKS airshow near Moscow.

2017

Named Su-57

The type formally receives the designation Su-57.

Feb 2018

Brief Syria deployment (reported)

Two prototypes are reported to have deployed briefly to Syria for trials and publicity, not sustained combat.

Dec 2019

First serial jet crashes

The first series-production Su-57 is lost in a crash before delivery; the pilot ejects safely.

Dec 2020

Enters service

The Russian Aerospace Forces receive their first operational Su-57.

2022–

Cautious use over Ukraine (reported)

Analysts assess the Su-57 has been used sparingly, mostly for stand-off missile launches from Russian airspace.

Jun 2024

Reported drone strike at Akhtubinsk

Ukraine claims a long-range drone reached a Su-57 at a flight-test centre deep inside Russia; damage extent is disputed.

Stories & Eyewitnesses

Twelve honest stories about the Su-57

Design

Russia’s first stealth fighter

The Felon breaks a Soviet mould — on paper.

Read the full story
The Su-57 is the first Russian fighter designed around low observability and internal weapons bays. It emerged from the PAK FA programme as Moscow’s answer to the F-22. But experts widely judge its stealth shaping and finish less refined than Western fifth-generation jets. It is best presented as ambitious, not proven best-in-class.
Programme

From T-50 to Su-57

A long, troubled road to service.

Read the full story
First flown in January 2010, the T-50 took a decade to reach the Russian Aerospace Forces, arriving as the Su-57 only in December 2020. Structural issues, a lost export partner, sanctions and industrial limits stretched development. Independent observers still question how mature the type really is.
Combat

Cautious over Ukraine

A stealth jet used with stand-off tactics.

Read the full story
Since 2022, analysts assess the Su-57 has been used sparingly over Ukraine — mostly launching stand-off missiles from within Russian airspace rather than penetrating defended skies. Russian claims of deep stealth strikes are unverified. All of this should be framed as reported, and its stealth has not been shown to be battle-proven.
Vulnerability

Hit on the ground

A drone reportedly reached the Felon at home.

Read the full story
In June 2024 Ukraine claimed a long-range drone strike on Akhtubinsk, some 600 km inside Russia, damaging at least one Su-57. Satellite images reportedly showed blast marks metres from the airframe. The damage extent — repairable or write-off — stays disputed. Report it as claimed, not confirmed.
Numbers

Few and far between

A fifth-gen fleet you can almost count.

Read the full story
Where the F-35 numbers in the hundreds, the Su-57 fleet is a disputed few dozen airframes by 2026. Sanctions and industrial constraints throttle output. Russia targets around 76 by the late 2020s — an ambition to treat as a goal, not an achievement.
Engineering

The engine problem

Still waiting on its definitive powerplant.

Read the full story
Serial Su-57s fly on AL-41F1 (izdeliye 117) engines derived from the Su-35’s. The definitive izdeliye 30 / AL-51F1 — promising more thrust and true supercruise — has been slow to enter production. Until it does, the jet arguably flies on interim engines.
Airshow

Cobra and beyond

Thrust-vectoring theatre.

Read the full story
Like its Flanker ancestors, the Su-57 uses thrust-vectoring nozzles and relaxed stability for dramatic post-stall manoeuvres at MAKS airshows. Spectacular to watch — though experts caution that airshow agility is not the same as a combat advantage against modern radar and long-range missiles.
Export

The customers that weren’t

Orders claimed, deliveries unclear.

Read the full story
India co-developed a Su-57 export variant (FGFA) then withdrew in 2018. Algeria has been reported as a buyer, with deliveries claimed by late 2025 — but nothing independently verified. Every Su-57 export claim should be treated as unconfirmed until proven; Russia is the only confirmed operator.
Loss

The jet that never delivered

A crash before the handover.

Read the full story
In December 2019 the first series-production Su-57 crashed during a test flight before it could be delivered to the air force — a stark early setback for a programme already running years late. The pilot ejected safely.
Rivalry

Felon vs Raptor vs F-35

The comparison Russia invites.

Read the full story
Moscow markets the Su-57 as an F-22 / F-35 peer. Independent analysts are sceptical: comparable raw agility, but likely inferior stealth, sensor maturity and fleet size. The matchup is best presented as contested marketing versus cautious Western assessment, not as an established result.
Naming

Why “Felon”?

A NATO reporting name, not a Russian one.

Read the full story
NATO assigns Russian fighters reporting names beginning with “F”; the Su-57 became “Felon.” The name is a Western convention — Sukhoi and the Russian military simply call it the Su-57. A small but common point of confusion worth clearing up.
Context

Propaganda vs proof

Reading the Felon honestly.

Read the full story
Few modern jets carry as wide a gap between promotion and independent verification. Russian state media touts world-beating capability; Ukrainian sources highlight every setback. The honest read sits between: a genuinely ambitious fifth-generation design, produced in small numbers, with a capability record still largely unproven in open sources.
Gallery

The Su-57 in pictures

A Sukhoi Su-57 (T-50) displaying at an airshow the type is a frequent MAKS performer.
A Sukhoi Su-57 (T-50) displaying at an airshow — the type is a frequent MAKS performer.Photo: Anna Zvereva · CC BY-SA 2.0
An early T-50 (PAK FA) prototype the programme that became the Su-57.
An early T-50 (PAK FA) prototype — the programme that became the Su-57.Photo: Alex Beltyukov · CC BY-SA 3.0
A T-50 prototype in flight in 2011, early in a long development.
A T-50 prototype in flight in 2011, early in a long development.Photo: Dmitry Zherdin · CC BY-SA 3.0
A front view of the Su-57, showing its faceted forward fuselage and widely spaced engines.
A front view of the Su-57, showing its faceted forward fuselage and widely spaced engines.Photo: Vitaly V. Kuzmin · CC BY-SA 4.0
A Su-57 on static display its main weapons are carried internally between the engines.
A Su-57 on static display — its main weapons are carried internally between the engines.Photo: Boevaya mashina · CC BY-SA 3.0
Two Su-57 airframes together Russia has fielded only a small fleet so far.
Two Su-57 airframes together — Russia has fielded only a small fleet so far.Photo: Luis4516 · CC0
Watch

The Su-57 in motion

A neutral video on the Su-57 will be added here.

Operations

Where the Su-57 operates

Combat Record

The Su-57’s combat record — reported, not proven

The Su-57 has no verified air-to-air combat record — no confirmed kills and no confirmed air-to-air losses. Reported use over Ukraine since 2022 has, by most independent accounts, been cautious stand-off missile launches from inside Russian airspace, not penetrating stealth strikes. Russian capability claims and Ukrainian strike claims alike should be treated as contested. The jet should not be described as combat-proven.

0Confirmed air-to-air kills
ReportedStand-off use over Ukraine (2022–)
Jun 2024Claimed drone strike at Akhtubinsk (disputed)

Compare the combat record of every military aircraft. Figures as of July 2026.

Questions & Answers

Everything people ask about the Su-57

Can I fly in a Su-57?
No. The Su-57 is an active frontline Russian combat aircraft and is not available to civilians anywhere. However, you can fly in several genuine military jets today — see migflug.com/flights-prices/ for the jets MiGFlug actually offers.
Is the Su-57 stealthy?
It is designed for a reduced radar signature, with internal weapons bays and shaped surfaces. But it is widely assessed as less stealthy than the F-22 or F-35, and no independent open-source measurement exists — treat Russian capability claims sceptically.
How fast is the Su-57?
About Mach 2 at altitude, though the figures are contested. Claimed supercruise of roughly Mach 1.3–1.6 depends on an engine not yet in series production.
Is the Su-57 combat-proven?
No. There is no verified air-to-air record. Reported use over Ukraine has been cautious stand-off launches, not validated stealth combat — it should not be called combat-proven.
Was a Su-57 really destroyed?
Ukraine claimed a Su-57 was damaged by a long-range drone at Akhtubinsk in June 2024. Satellite images reportedly showed blast marks near the airframe, but the damage extent is disputed — report it as claimed, not confirmed.
How many Su-57s exist?
A disputed few dozen by 2026, with open-source estimates roughly in the 22–40 range. Russia targets around 76 by the late 2020s.
Who flies the Su-57?
Only Russia is a confirmed operator. Algeria’s reported order is unverified, and India withdrew from the joint FGFA export programme in 2018.
Why is it called “Felon”?
“Felon” is the NATO reporting name — a Western naming convention. Sukhoi and the Russian military call it simply the Su-57.
The part of the collection you can touch

You can’t fly the Su-57.
These, you can.

Some legends only live in museums — others are fuelled and waiting. MiGFlug has put civilians in real military jet cockpits since 2004.

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Related Aircraft

Continue the tour

The BenchmarkF-22 RaptorThe American stealth fighter the Su-57 was conceived to answer — and the yardstick against which its stealth is usually measured.Read the F-22 storyThe Fleet RivalF-35 Lightning IIBuilt in the hundreds where the Su-57 is built in dozens — the fifth-gen jet Moscow most invites the comparison with.Read the F-35 storyThe AncestorSu-35 Flanker-EThe 4++ generation Flanker whose AL-41F1 engines power today’s serial Su-57 — and whose agility it inherits.Read the Su-35 story
Sources & Further Reading

Every claim, checked and hedged

  • Forbes — David AxeAnalysis of the June 2024 Akhtubinsk drone-strike claim and Su-57 vulnerability.
  • RUSICommentary on Russian airbase vulnerability and the Akhtubinsk incident.
  • Kyiv PostUkrainian strike claims — clearly a Ukrainian-sourced perspective, to be weighed against Russian promotion.
  • The National InterestDoctrine and vulnerability analysis of the Su-57 programme.
  • Army RecognitionSpecifications and operator overview (Russian-stated figures noted as such).
  • Encyclopaedia BritannicaGeneral overview of the Su-57 and PAK FA programme.
  • EDR MagazineRosoboronexport export marketing at LIMA 2025 — treated as promotional.