Key Points and Summary – A senior Russian military official has hinted that the Su-57 Felon stealth fighter may be armed with hypersonic weapons.
-The general’s statement was ambiguous, linking increased Su-57 deliveries with a broader rollout of hypersonic systems without explicitly confirming their integration onto the jet itself.
-Despite the uncertainty, reports have long suggested that Russia is developing a new air-launched hypersonic missile for the Su-57, possibly a variant of the powerful naval Zircon missile.
-If this integration occurs, it would represent a significant leap forward in Russia’s long-range strike and anti-ship capabilities.
Russia’s Su-57 Felon Fighter: Getting Hypersonic Missiles or Not?
A senior Russian military official has hinted at the integration of hypersonic weapons into the Su-57 Felon stealth fighter.
While not explicitly confirming that the aircraft has already been armed with hypersonic missiles, Lieutenant General Alexander Maksimtsev – the First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces – described the simultaneous expansion of Su-57 deliveries and advanced missiles, including hypersonic systems.
What We Know
During an interview with the state-owned Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, Maksimtsev did not confirm which weapon had been installed on the aircraft.
“In accordance with the state defense order, the Aerospace Forces annually receive advanced and modernized weapon systems,” Maksimtsev said.
“The pace of deliveries of fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft is increasing, along with modern aviation strike systems and hypersonic weapons,” he continued.
Current reporting on Maksimtsev’s comments, however, may have missed a crucial piece of the puzzle: the Su-57 might not receive a hypersonic missile upgrade at all.
A New Russian Hypersonic Missile?
While Russian military sources remain tight-lipped about the hypersonic missile in question, defense industry sources have previously indicated that a new air-to-ground missile has been under development for some time, with plans to integrate the hypersonic missile into the Su-57 platform.
However, the remarks made by Lt. Gen. Alexander Maksimtsev may be more ambiguous than they first appear. While his statement connected the increased delivery of Su-57 jets with the broader rollout of “modern aviation strike systems and hypersonic weapons,” he did not explicitly state that those hypersonic weapons were being integrated into the Su-57 itself.
The phrasing could just as easily refer to the parallel developments within Russia’s Aerospace Forces, rather than a specific enhancement to the Su-57 platform.
A Trip Back in Time on the Su-57
Nonetheless, reports have described ongoing plans for a dramatically improved missile system for the Su-57 over the last several years.
In 2023, Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported that a “small” air-to-surface hypersonic missile prototype was undergoing testing. Analysts have long suggested that the missile could be a variant of the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, which is currently deployed on Russian Navy submarines and ships.
Why This Matters
The potential integration of a weapon like the Zircon onto the Su-57 could mark a significant leap in Russia’s long-range strike and anti-ship capabilities.
First deployed on naval platforms in 2023, the missile is designed to evade current and future air defense systems, traveling at speeds of up to Mach 9 and capable of striking targets as far as 1,000 kilometers away.
Its extreme velocity means that the missile’s kinetic impact alone is highly destructive and capable of disabling large warships.
Why the Su-57 Felon Matters
The Su-57’s significance lies not in its current numbers but in the long-term role it is expected to play for the Russian Air Force.
That is particularly true if its new onboard missiles prove as capable and powerful as some analysts suggest.
The Felon combines stealth, range, and deep strike capabilities, making it a versatile multi-role platform.
As both manned and unmanned aerial systems become increasingly central to modern warfare, the Su-57 is likely to serve as a valuable long-range strike asset designed to operate in heavily defended environments.
While the numbers vary based on the source, Russia’s Ministry of Defense expects to procure as many as 76 by 2027, with enough to equip multiple regiments.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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