PUBLISHED on August 6, 2025, 10:41 AM EST – Key Points and Summary – Amidst unconfirmed reports that Russia is now flying its Su-57 Felon stealth fighter on regular missions over Ukraine, the risks for Moscow are substantial.
-If a Su-57 were to be shot down, the consequences would be disastrous.
Su-57 Felon Screengrab from Russia. Image Credit: X Screengrab.
-It would represent a massive public relations victory for Ukraine, which would likely display the wreckage and captured pilot to the world.
-More critically, a downed Su-57 would allow Ukraine and its NATO partners to analyze the aircraft and glean invaluable intelligence on Russia’s secret stealth technology, avionics, and flight controls, potentially setting the troubled program back for years.
What Would Happen If the Vaunted Su-57 Felon Fighter Were to Be Shot Down?
Russia’s Su-57 Felon may finally be flying regular missions over Ukraine.
The Russian air force had previously held the stealth jet out of harm’s way, safely deploying it in friendly airspace to work on tactics and improve readiness.
The Su-57 is Russia’s premier fighter, one they had hoped would change the balance of the war and establish air supremacy.
However, the Su-57 has not made a significant impact in the conflict, and the risks of flying it over Ukraine are substantial. An Su-57 shoot-down would be disastrous for Vladimir Putin’s air force.
The Ukrainians would surely find the wreckage and trumpet it on social media for the world to see. They would hunt for the pilot who had ejected and take him prisoner or even hold him hostage for ransom.
The Ukrainians would throw a mega news conference and display the Russian pilot in a frightened state. This would be a huge public relations win for the Ukrainians should a Su-57 be destroyed.
Source of Important Intelligence
Ukraine could also analyze the hull of the airplane and glean intelligence from it regarding how the Su-57 maintains its stealthiness.
The Ukrainians could check out other details of their avionics and flight controls.
This information could be shared with the United States and other NATO countries.
Internet Tongues Are Wagging on Su-57 Felon ‘News’
Defence Blog reported on August 5 that Su-57s were conducting operations over Ukraine. Although, to be frank, the sourcing is hardly ideal.
Citing conversations among aerospace enthusiasts on the Sonyashnyk Telegram channel, this online community described missions that the Su-57s are executing across the Ukrainian border.
Sonyashnyk suggests the Su-57s are still mainly running tests over Ukraine to see if they can conduct operations efficiently with missiles and bombs.
The Russians are also evaluating interoperability to judge whether the airplanes can fly in multiple attack formations.
The Telegram users have determined that the Su-57 could be training for complex strike missions into the heart of Ukraine.
This means that the invaders have confidence that the Felon can penetrate deep into Ukraine’s constellation of air defenses.
The Weapons Load Is Impressive
“One typical configuration involves a Su-57 providing cover with long-range R-77M air-to-air missiles, while other aircraft conduct precision strikes using Kh-69 cruise missiles or guided bombs,” according to United24Media.com.
Russia could also be equipping the Su-57 with the KS-172 air-to-air missile, which has been used on the MiG-31.
New Drone-Missile Could Be Deployed
The Su-57 could also be trained to use a hybrid-drone missile called the Su-71K.
This “blurs the lines between an unmanned aerial vehicle and a stealth cruise missile,” Defence Blog said in the fall of 2024.
The Su-71K can engage both stationary and moving targets. The drone-missile is reportedly autonomous and uses artificial intelligence and neural networks for target identification and acquisition.
The reports of Su-57s conducting regular flights over Ukraine are noteworthy because previous missions for the Felon have been limited in scope.
The stealth jet may have been simply escorting combat drones, such as the S-70 Okhotnik-B, to drop and launch weapons for deep-strike operations.
The Su-57 Has Failed to Live Up to Its Potential
The Felon has endured a checkered history. There have been delays and cost overruns that have kept the airplane from being produced in significant numbers.
International sanctions have restricted the supply of parts and components, especially advanced electronics, to engineers and technicians working on the program.
The Su-57 was intended for export, but only Algeria has proceeded with a purchase.
However, the latest missions may be an attempt to showcase the stealth warbird so more customers could become interested in a purchasing deal.
The Su-57 is the star of the fleet. This is a fifth-generation warplane that boasts numerous features one would expect from a modernized fighter. New radar-absorbent materials are being developed to enhance stealthiness. The Su-57 boasts ample electronic warfare capabilities, enabling it to jam and spoof enemy radar. It also can collect reconnaissance data. The warbird features an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, plus an infrared search and track (IRST) system.
For these reasons, the Russians would hate to lose a Su-57 in battle. The loss would be catastrophic and would likely set the program back for years to come. However, this is an airplane that should be survivable due to its stealthiness.
Look for more reports of the Su-57 flying regularly. The Russian air force needs a morale boost. It is not having a great war, and pilots are looking for some kind of spark. The Felon should be finally ready for battle.
There are indeed risks if it were to be shot down, but simply escorting drones is no job for such an advanced and expensive airplane. If nothing else, the Su-57 could be a test bed for new Russian weapons such as the hybrid drone-cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons.
This airplane is wasting away without combat deployments, and Putin is ready to use one of his “super weapons” to its fullest potential.
Let’s see what the future holds for the Su-57 Felon.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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