Russia’s military has announced the acquisition of upgraded versions of the Su-57 fighter jet, the country’s most advanced stealth aircraft. This comes as the Su-57 has played a limited role in Russia’s prolonged war with Ukraine.
Moscow’s state-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) confirmed on Thursday the delivery of a ‘batch’ of updated Su-57 fighters to Russia’s air force. The Russian defense ministry acknowledged receipt of these new jets, citing a ‘new technical design’ without providing specifics on the enhancements or the number of jets acquired. Newsweek is awaiting further details from the Russian Defense Ministry.
The single-seat Su-57 is touted by Russia as its most advanced and elusive jet, designed to rival the U.S. F-35s and F-22s. However, skepticism persists among Western aviation experts regarding its stealth capabilities.
Technological Upgrades and Sixth-Generation Goals
Rostec, the defense conglomerate overseeing UAC, plans to upgrade existing Su-57s by adding a ‘second cockpit’ for managing drones that operate in conjunction with the jet. These upgrades tie into Russia’s ambition to incorporate ‘sixth-generation technologies’ in aviation, a strategic focus as countries worldwide develop the next iteration of fighter jets.
Sixth-generation jets are expected to be a costly venture, heavily reliant on unmanned systems. These efficient, unmanned drones are designed to absorb the riskier combat roles, safeguarding human pilots and expensive aircraft from frontline dangers.
Despite these advancements, Western experts like Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute suggest Moscow is unlikely to match the sophisticated jet programs being developed by the U.S. and China.
Performance and Limited Use in Ukraine
Though Russia has deployed the Su-57 for long-range missions in Ukraine, assessments rate its performance as underwhelming. Analysts note Russia’s cautious approach in deploying its limited fleet of these jets in Kyiv.
A Su-57 pilot quoted by Russian authorities and UAC praised its effectiveness during the ‘special military operation,’ Russia’s term for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine initiated in February 2022. The UAC confirmed the new jets had passed factory testing and that Russian Defense Ministry personnel tested them.
‘The fifth-generation Su-57 aviation complex is the best in its class,’ stated UAC CEO Vadim Badekha. ‘Our priority is to fulfill the state defense order for these and other operational-tactical aircraft. We continue to enhance production processes in collaboration with other Rostec companies.’
Production Delays and Recent Developments
Efforts to increase Su-57 production have been hampered by the ongoing demands of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. As of early 2026, Russia possessed at least 21 Su-57s, as per the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Ukraine claims to have damaged at least one in June 2024, its first confirmed strike on this aircraft type.
Ukrainian forces, led by unmanned systems commander Robert Magyar, reported damaging two Su-57s in the Chelyabinsk region following a strike in April. A Russian Telegram channel, Fighterbomber, shared an image of what appears to be the Su-57D in May. Meanwhile, Russian media reported a crash of a Su-57 prototype during flight tests in July near Moscow. The defense ministry acknowledged the incident, confirming the pilot had ejected safely.
Russia’s Su-57s have engaged in launching air-to-air missiles at Ukrainian drones, aimed at protecting its infrastructure. These engagements suggest Moscow uses its advanced jets against UAVs that can cost significantly less.