United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), parent company of Russia’s main aerospace manufacturers, reported having delivered another “batch” of the 5th generation Su-57 fighter to the country’s Air Force.
As on other occasions, the number of aircraft sent was not revealed, but only one Su-57 was shown in photos and video.
The Sukhoi fighter had its identification marks digitally removed, to possibly hinder Western intelligence analysis.
“Aircraft manufacturers have manufactured and handed over to our Armed Forces all the fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft planned for delivery this year. Increasing the production of these unique machines was made possible by resolving issues regarding the rhythmic supply of components and improving the technology of in-line assembly,” said Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov.
“The Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant UAC is increasing serial production of the Su-57. In the final assembly shop, work is already underway on combat vehicles that will be transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2024. The number of fifth-generation fighters entering the military almost doubles every year,” said Sergei Chemezov, director of Rostec State Corporation , which controls the UAC.
Order for 76 fighters
The Russian government says that updates to the 5th generation fighter’s manufacturing process have accelerated production and that new facilities will be put into operation in 2024.
Despite this, the UAC itself announced that it had delivered new Su-57 fighters to the Russian Air Force only on two occasions in 2023, the first of which was in September.
According to British Intelligence, there were around nine Su-57s in operational condition at the beginning of the year.
The Russian government ordered 76 aircraft years ago, in addition to having a contingent of pre-production fighters and aircraft originally used in tests.
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The Su-57 is the first stealth fighter developed in Russia, but it took many years for the aircraft to enter series production.
According to Western analysts, the Sukhoi fighter has a lower capacity than the US F-22 and F-35 and Chinese J-20 fighter jets.
