The Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name: Felon) is a stealth, single-seat, twin-engine multirole fifth-generation jet fighter being developed since 2002 for air superiority and attack operations. The aircraft is the product of the PAK FA (Russian: Perspektivny Aviatsionny Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii, lit. ''prospective aeronautical complex of front-line air forces''), a fifth-generation fighter program of the Russian Air Force. Sukhoi's internal name for the aircraft is T-50. The Su-57 is the first aircraft in Russian military service to use stealth technology. Its maiden flight took place on January 29th, 2010, and it entered service on December 25th, 2020. It is the world's fourth operational fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft after the F-22, F-35, and J-20.

According to Sukhoi Company, the fighter is designed to have supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth, and advanced avionics to overcome the previous generation fighter aircraft as well as ground and naval defences.The Su-57 is intended to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian Air Force.

The prototypes and initial production batch are to be delivered with a highly upgraded Lyulka AL-31 variant, the AL-41F1, as an interim powerplant, while an advanced clean-sheet design engine, currently designated the Izdeliye 30, is in final stages of development, expected to be available after mid-2020s. The fighter is expected to have a service life of up to 35 years

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Russian Sukhoi Su-57E stealth fighter then undergoing flight test at Zhukovsky Airfield, Russia, during 2023. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-3/4-inches
Length: 11-inches

Release Date: April 2024

Historical Account: "Over Ukraine" - The Russian MoD finally broke its silence on using Su-57 fighters in the ongoing special military operations (SMO). General Sergei Surovikin, commander of the joint group of troops in the area of the SMO, told reporters on Tuesday, October 18th, 2022.

"In terms of the quality of combat use, I would especially like to single out the Su-57 fifth-generation multifunctional aircraft. Having a wide range of weapons, it solves multifaceted tasks of hitting air and ground targets in each sortie," he said.

General Surovikin's comment suggests that the Su-57 is being used both in the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles, and in both roles, it had scored hits.

Earlier, in June 2022, Izvestia had reported that Russia had deployed four Su-57 for the SMO, and the aircraft was being used to establish a tactical information network.

Earlier in 2018, Russia officially acknowledged using four Su-57 during the Syrian campaign. The State Duma's expert council for the aviation industry, Vladimir Gutenev, said in July 2018.