According to reports, a Russian Su-57 fifth-generation fighter crashed near Moscow after supposedly experiencing an engine failure during a routine training flight. The pilot reportedly managed to eject and survived after sustaining injuries.
At present, reports are breaking, and information is fluid and subject to change.
Su-57 Felon Stealth Fighter Taking Off. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
If true, this would mark the second crash of a Su-57 and the third, maybe fourth, overall loss. Preliminary reports suggest that the crash was likely due to a maintenance error or a mistake during the pre-flight procedures.
The cause is still under investigation by Russian authorities. If confirmed, this is a rough loss for the Russian Air Force (assuming that the aircraft wasn’t a prototype airframe). While the aircraft can be replaced on paper, the slow rate of production does not inspire confidence.
A Su-57 Crashes Near Moscow
The overall details about the event are still largely unknown.
The Su-57 was reportedly conducting a routine training flight in the Moscow region before experiencing a problem that disabled one or both of the engines. According to Russian sources, the pilot steered the aircraft away from residential buildings before ejecting and sustaining some non-life-threatening injuries.
The airframe crashed into an open field near the village of Lutsino in the Odintsovo district of Moscow. The exact details of the incident are currently under investigation, although the results are unlikely to be shared with the public anytime soon.
Commenting on the incident, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that “a combat training aircraft crashed during takeoff in the Moscow region. The pilot ejected; there is no threat to his life.” The Ministry added that the aircraft was not carrying any ammunition and was not carrying out any combat missions at the time. Interestingly, the Ministry did not confirm whether the downed aircraft was a Su-57 or not.
If the aircraft was a combat trainer, then there is a possibility that the aircraft was a prototype and not a serial model. However, it is not known to the present author whether Russia uses prototype models for training flights.
Regardless, a Su-57 has crashed from non-military-related causes.
Past Su-57 Losses
This incident marks the third confirmed loss of a Su-57. The first loss technically wasn’t a Su-57, but rather a T-50 prototype, the T-50-5. The aircraft was lost after an engine fire occurred after landing.
The aircraft was scrapped, and its salvageable parts were used to construct T-50-6. The first loss of a serial aircraft occurred in 2019 when bort number “01 Blue” crashed near the Dzyomgi Airport in Khabarovski Krai. According to Russian news media, the aircraft experienced a flight control malfunction, causing it to enter into a spiral descent. The pilot ejected safely, but the aircraft was lost.
Su-57 Felon Stealth Fighter in the Sky. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Only one Su-57 has been damaged or destroyed due to the war in Ukraine. In 2024, Ukraine launched a drone attack on the Akhtubinsk Air Base, where Su-57s are stationed. According to the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence, two fifth-generation aircraft were damaged or destroyed as a result. Satellite imagery later showed that one aircraft may have received shrapnel damage from an impact crater that hit next to the aircraft. The airframe itself, based on the available footage, looked mostly fine.
It should be noted that since the attack, Russia has started building hangars at Akhtubinsk and other military air bases. After the attack on the airfield, Russian millbloggers criticized the Ministry of Defense for not protecting its fifth-generation aircraft with hardened shelters. After more than three years of fighting, the Air Force finally decided to listen.
An Unfortunate Loss for the Russian Air Force
The Su-57 is the most advanced fighter jet in the Russian Air Force. Its value is estimated at somewhere between $30 and $50 million, which is significantly cheaper than an F-35, but much more expensive and harder to build than Russia’s other fighters. Because Russia is still comparatively less experienced with stealth manufacturing, producing Su-57s takes a long time. According to some estimates, only 40 serial frames have been produced despite the aircraft entering service back in 2019. Compared to the rate of production of the F-35 in the U.S. and the J-20 in China, the conclusion is fairly obvious: Russia lacks the industrial capacity to produce Su-57s at a fast pace. Despite efforts to increase production of fifth-generation aircraft, delivery rates remain slow.
The Russian Ministry of Defense currently has an ongoing order for 76 aircraft. According to estimates, around 22 airframes have been delivered, although the true number is likely a bit higher. The loss of a Su-57 is a heavy blow for the Russian Air Force, but not an irreplaceable one. While the incident reflects poorly on the Russian Air Force, the fact of the matter is that crashes like this simply happen; whether it was due to a mistake by the ground crew or an unforeseeable failure in the air is unknown. The U.S. also experiences its fair share of costly aviation mishaps. So far, the J-20 is the only fifth-generation aircraft that has not experienced any sort of crashes or technical mishaps (that we know of).
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
