Russia's Most Advanced Su-57 Jet Destroyed By Ukraine For 1st Time

This is Russia's most advanced multi-role stealth fighter jet. NATO estimates that only ten are operational across the entire country. They have been uses against Ukraine to launch missiles against civilian and military targets.

Destroying one of them is significant because of their advanced capabilities and because Russia has so few of them. They are difficult to replace because sanctions make acquisition of essential electronics almost impossible. JL

Defense Express reports:

Yesterday a Russian Su-57 stealth multirole fighter was hit for the first time at the Akhtubynsk airfield. Russian Aerospace Forces have only several units of Su-57 fighters - they may have as few as 10 Su-57s at their disposal. Such aircraft are used to attack Ukraine with cruise missiles. This became the first aircraft of the conventional "5th generation" to be destroyed.

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported that on June 8, 2024, russian Su-57 stealth multirole fighter was hit for the first time at the Akhtubynsk airfield. This is confirmed by the relevant satellite images. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine added that russian Aerospace Forces have only several units of Su-57 fighters. Such aircraft were used to attack the territory of Ukraine with cruise missiles of Kh-59 and Kh-69 types.

This case can be called historical. This is the first time russians have lost Su-57 aircraft during the full-scale war against Ukraine. Therefore, we can say that russian Su-57 became the first aircraft of the conventional "5th generation" in the history to be destroyed.

The damaged russian Su-57 at the Akhtubinsk air base on June 8, 2024 / Satellite images provided by the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine

It is possible to say that russian military industry has failed to bring the Su-57 to the full level of a 5th generation fighter. Therefore, it is necessary to determine which gradation in the 4th generation this aircraft belongs to. But it will be more productive to explain how significant a loss the damaged Su-57 is for russians, and how such aircraft were used in the war against Ukraine.

At the beginning of 2024, russian Aerospace Forces had only up to 10 Su-57 aircraft at its disposal. This makes this type of aircraft the rarest for russians.

 

It is known that the Akhtubinsk airfield is the base for the 929th State Flight Test Center of the Ministry of Defense of the russian federation. Therefore, it can be assumed that even at the moment, Su-57 might not yet be fully operational in russian Aerospace Forces. These aircraft may still be used in the experimental combat duty mode.

russian Su-57s at the Akhtubinsk air base in late December, 2022 / Satellite images provided by the UK Ministry of Defense

In 2022, russian propagandists claimed that their military industry was able to produce as many as 6 aircraft of this type, bringing the number of available Su-57s to 10. However, russians were able to show only two of the claimed jets in the photo.

According to the IISS, russians managed to produce several Su-57s in 2023. This suggests that russian Aerospace Forces may have up to 10 Su-57s at their disposal.

Su-57 and MiG-31BM / Open source photo

russians used Su-57 in the war against Ukraine for the first time in April 2022. At that time, they were used to launch missiles at targets in Kirovohrad Oblsasts and the port infrastructure of Odesa Odesa, without entering Ukrainian airspace.

At the same time, the UK Ministry of Defense stated that russians had began using their Su-57s no later than June 2022. And they are used not only for cruise missile launches, but also allegedly for air-to-air missile launches.