Su-57 Felon Specs, Weapons, Stealth and Combat Record
The Sukhoi Su-57 Felon is Russia’s only fifth-generation fighter in service, a twin-engine stealth design with a claimed top speed of about Mach 2 and a claimed 10-ton weapon load, yet only a couple of dozen are believed to be flying. First flown in 2010 and accepted into service in 2020, the jet has been a story of big ambition and slow production, and its performance figures below are manufacturer claims rather than independently verified data.
Su-57 specs
| Parameter | Value (manufacturer claims unless noted) |
|---|---|
| Role | Multirole stealth fighter, air superiority and strike |
| Crew | 1 pilot |
| Length / wingspan | About 20.1 m / about 14.1 m |
| Max takeoff weight | About 35,000 kg |
| Engines | 2 x Saturn AL-41F1 (izdeliye 117), each about 15 tonnes of thrust with afterburner; newer izdeliye 30 engine in testing |
| Max speed | About Mach 2 at altitude; supercruise claimed at roughly Mach 1.3 |
| Range | About 3,500 km on internal fuel, about 5,500 km with external tanks, claimed |
| Service ceiling | About 20,000 m, claimed |
| Gun | 1 x 30mm GSh-30-1 cannon |
| Internal weapons | Two main bays plus side bays for short-range missiles |
| Radar | N036 Byelka AESA with cheek and wing-root arrays; L-band elements |
How was the Su-57 developed
The aircraft grew out of the PAK FA program launched in the 2000s after the Soviet-era MiG 1.44 and Su-47 experiments. Sukhoi’s T-50 prototype first flew on January 29, 2010. A planned joint development with India, the FGFA, collapsed over workshare and cost, leaving Russia to carry the program alone.
Serial production began at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant, and the first production aircraft was delivered in December 2020. Deliveries have been slow. Early plans called for dozens of aircraft by the late 2020s, but public estimates suggest only roughly two dozen are in service, a pace constrained by sanctions, engine maturity and competing priorities for Russian industry.
Su-57 weapons and radar
The Felon carries its main weapons inside two tandem bays between the engines, each able to hold long-range missiles such as the R-77M and the very-long-range R-37M, plus air-to-ground weapons including Kh-59MK2 and Kh-38 series missiles and guided bombs. Russia says the total load can reach about 10 tonnes including external pylons, which would erase stealth for those missions.
The N036 radar is the aircraft’s most distinctive sensor feature. Besides the main nose array, small arrays in the leading edges and cheeks are intended to give wide coverage and improve performance against stealthy targets, in theory. For background on how such radars work, see our explainer on AESA radar. An infrared search-and-track sensor supplements the radar, a capability we cover in our guide to IRST systems.
Is the Su-57 really stealth
Russia describes the Su-57 as a low-observable aircraft, but independent analysts generally judge it less stealthy than American designs. The exposed engine faces, the lack of full radar-absorbent treatment on many surfaces and earlier-generation manufacturing tolerances all raise its radar signature compared with the F-22 or F-35, according to Western assessments. Russian officials have said that the design balances stealth with maneuverability and cost.
Stealth is a matter of degree rather than a binary label. Our explainer on radar cross-section shows why small differences in shaping and coatings translate into large differences in detection range. A direct comparison is in our F-35 vs Su-57 analysis.
Su-57 variants and operators
| Version or user | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Su-57 (izdeliye 117 engines) | In service since 2020 | Baseline production aircraft with AL-41F1 engines |
| Su-57 with izdeliye 30 | In testing and early delivery | More powerful engine intended to improve supercruise and reduce infrared signature, claimed |
| Su-57E | Export variant | Marketed at air shows; export customers reported but not officially confirmed in detail |
| Russian Aerospace Forces | Only confirmed operator | Fleet size estimated at roughly two dozen |
| Algeria | Reported buyer | Reports of delivery are based on media and imagery; treat as unconfirmed |
Su-57 combat record
The Su-57 has a thin combat record. Russia has said that prototypes were tested in Syria in 2018, a claim that has not been independently verified. During the war in Ukraine, Russian statements and some reporting describe Su-57s launching stand-off missiles from inside Russian airspace, consistent with a cautious employment pattern that keeps the valuable jets away from dense air defenses.
Ukrainian officials claimed in June 2025 that a drone strike damaged at least one Su-57 on the ground at the Akhtubinsk test center. That report is operator-reported and not independently confirmed in full. No air-to-air kill by a Su-57 has been credibly documented.
Su-57 frequently asked questions
How fast is the Su-57?
Russia claims about Mach 2 at altitude and supercruise at roughly Mach 1.3. These are manufacturer claims.
How many Su-57s are in service?
Public estimates suggest roughly two dozen, far below early plans.
Is the Su-57 a real stealth fighter?
It is designed for reduced radar visibility, but Western analysts judge it less stealthy than the F-22 or F-35.
Has the Su-57 been exported?
The Su-57E export version is marketed abroad, and Algeria is widely reported as a customer, but details are not officially confirmed.
What engine does the Su-57 use?
Current aircraft use the Saturn AL-41F1, with the more powerful izdeliye 30 engine being introduced.
- Wikipedia – Sukhoi Su-57 (accessed October 2026)
- Russian state media and United Aircraft Corporation statements (manufacturer claims)
- Ukrainian General Staff statements (operator-reported)
- Defence & Tech reporting and analysis of fifth-generation fighters
