Western intelligence and aviation experts have revealed that Russia has been reluctant to deploy its limited number of Su-57 fighter jets in the conflict in Ukraine, due to concerns that losing a Su-57 in combat would damage the aircraft’s reputation.
However, last weekend, Ukraine successfully targeted and hit a Russian Su-57 aircraft from hundreds of miles away in a remote strike on Russian targets.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate (HUR) stated in a Telegram message that on Saturday, June 8, a Su-57 was “hit for the first time” during an attack on the Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia, which is over 365 miles away from the Russia-Ukraine frontline.
The intelligence directorate shared images in their post, showing the Su-57 aircraft intact on June 7 but with visible damage, including craters and fire damage, on the ground on June 8, indicating damage to the aircraft itself.
The extent of the damage remains unclear, and Epoch Times was unable to immediately verify the images.
The Ukrainian military intelligence’s statement on social media did not provide details on how the Su-57 was hit or which unit within the Ukrainian forces was responsible for the strike.
According to satellite images shared by the UK Ministry of Defense, multiple Su-57 aircraft have been observed at the Akhtubinsk airfield as early as December 2022.
Reuters quoted a Russian military enthusiast and pro-Russia blogger who confirmed reports of the Su-57 being hit, indicating that the aircraft was targeted by a drone. This blogger, known as “Combat Bomber,” is well-versed in discussing aviation-related topics.
On June 10, “Business Insider” reported that analysts at the Study of War think tank criticized the Russian military command for failing to construct hangars to protect Russian aircraft from Ukrainian attacks following the June 8 strike event.
The analyst claimed that the Russian military could build hangars at every military airfield in Russia for the cost of a single Su-57 aircraft, estimated at $35 million.
The Su-57 is a Russian single-seat, twin-engine stealth multirole heavy fighter aircraft and the first fifth-generation fighter aircraft developed by Russia. The NATO reporting name for the Su-57 is “Felon.” However, analysts frequently question whether the aircraft truly lives up to this classification due to apparent deficiencies in critical capabilities.
The Su-57 faces numerous technical challenges, including a lack of stealthy engines and sufficiently tight body paneling to adequately reduce radar signatures. The aircraft’s development has been fraught with setbacks and delays, with a Su-57 crash in 2019.
The aircraft first saw combat in Syria in 2018 and was delivered to the Russian military in 2020. Kremlin officials claim the Su-57 has participated in combat in Ukraine, but evidence supporting this claim is scarce.
Western intelligence and aviation experts suggest that Russia’s reluctance to use the Su-57 in combat indicates concerns about potential damage to its reputation, loss of sensitive technology, and reduced export opportunities in case of the aircraft being shot down. Additionally, Russia may lack confidence in the aircraft’s purported stealth capabilities.
HUR stated that the Su-57 is Russia’s “most modern fighter aircraft” capable of launching Kh-59/69 missiles, and only a “few” are currently in service. The Southern Command of Ukraine explicitly stated that one of the six operational aircraft was shot down on June 8.
Russian state media hints at deploying dozens of Su-57 aircraft by the end of the century, though the realization of these plans remains uncertain.
“Business Insider” reported that Justin Bronk, an airpower and technology expert at the Royal United Services Institute, described the June 8 attack by Ukraine as a “significant symbolic blow” to Russia’s long-troubled Su-57 program, with little direct impact on the war.
Bronk’s analysis on June 10 stated that due to the small size of the Su-57 fleet, political damage would occur if one were shot down, combined with slow system development, resulting in minimal impact of the Su-57 in conflict thus far.
He noted that the attack showcased Ukraine’s relatively mature low-cost long-range strike capability that can target Russian military installations within the country.