Key Points and Summary – Russia touts the Su-57 as a fifth-gen peer to America’s F-35/F-22, with supercruise, AESA sensors and loyal-wingman control.
-The bigger truth is mass: the U.S. services field 650+ F-35s while Russia has few Su-57 numbers, limiting combat impact against NATO.
-On stealth, the Su-57’s blended shaping and internal bays help, but exposed engine nozzles and likely thermal output raise signature questions.
-Weapons fit is broad, yet survivability in a modern IADS-and-fighter fight remains unproven.
-Moscow is pairing Su-57s with the S-70 Okhotnik-B drone, but U.S. manned-unmanned teaming is years ahead and moving into Collaborative Combat Aircraft this decade.
Su-57 Felon: The Truth Is Complex
The Su-57 has been described as having breakthrough stealth attributes, F-35-like sensing capabilities, and an ability to operate loyal wingman drones through manned-unmanned teaming that would be on a par with similar efforts developed by the U.S. Air Force.
These at the very least deserve scrutiny. But regardless of the jet’s performance parameters – even if this is a top-of-the-line fifth-generation fighter – the Russian Aerospace Forces suffers from an acute numbers deficit. The U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines now collectively operate more than 650 F-35s, according to a 2024 Government Accountability Office estimation. That leaves Russia with little to no chance of rivaling the strength of U.S. stealth-enabled air power.
As Sun Tzu famously explained centuries ago, “mass matters,” and any kind of large-scale Russia-NATO air engagement would overwhelmingly favor the West in the air.
The Su-57 can reportedly reach speeds of Mach 2. Similar to the U.S. Air Force’s F-22, it can also reportedly operate with supercruise technology, meaning it has the ability to sustain supersonic speeds without afterburners.
According to a years-old Aviation News report, the Su-57 is engineered with 12 weapons hardpoints, including six internal and six external to the chassis. Additional reporting on the Su-57 also lists a long arsenal of weapons, including anti-ship missiles, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and guided bombs, that the Su-57 can reportedly employ.
Is Russia’s Su-57 Actually Stealthy?
Many of the characteristics that give a plane its stealth are not visible to the eye, namely internal engines, thermal management, and radar-absorbent coating materials, yet the Su-57 simply does not look as stealthy as an F-35.
It looks like the Su-57 has an internal weapons bay, and the jet also appears to have an F-22-like dual-engine configuration. It looks a little less rounded, blended, and smoothed over when compared to the F-35.
That being said, the shape of the Su-57 is indeed stealthy, as it does appear to blend wing and body and to operate with horizontal structures. The Su-57’s Mach 2 speed makes it not slower than the F-22 Raptor, which is reported to be able to reach Mach 2.25.
The twin-engine stealth fighter’s blended wing-body stealth configuration does appear to lack the hard edges, contours, or protrusions that would make it more visible to radar. Thus a simple look at the plane might initially seem to confirm its stealth.
However, look a little longer: Both of its engine exhaust tubes appear to protrude somewhat, presenting shapes or configurations potentially visible to advanced radar technologies. Also, and perhaps of greater significance, the apparent size of the heat exhaust might suggest it has a high heat signature.
A Lot of Hot Air
Despite the apparent deficit in thermal management, Russia’s Sputnik news site actually praised the Su-57s thermal signature years ago.
Sputnik cited a reduced heat signature as one of several Su-57 technical advantages in a 2010 report; of note, this was fairly early in the aircraft’s developmental process.
The report cites a Sukhoi developer saying the use of composite materials, advanced aerodynamics, and lower heat signature decreases the likelihood the Su-57 would be spotted by optical, infrared or Radio Frequency detection.
Flying Is a Team Effort
Russia has also, in recent years, been working to network its S-70 Okhotnik-B drone with the Su-57 in a potential effort to match or surpass U.S. manned-unmanned teaming initiatives.
While little is known about this project, Russia’s drive to pair its stealth jet to drones seems to lag substantially behind a continuing and well-evolved U.S. effort.
Su-57 Felon Stealth Fighter from Russia. Image: Creative Commons.
The U.S. Air Force successfully demonstrated an ability to connect its Valkyrie drone with the F-22 and F-35 years ago, and it is now testing the flight of Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones to support the F-35, F-22, and the future sixth-generation F-47.
Russia’s stealthy Okhotnik-B drone appears to present a significant threat, yet the extent to which it can effectively network with Russian fifth-generation aircraft remains unclear.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
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