The Sukhoi Felon, Russia’s new supersonic fighter called the Su-57, is said to have served with Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, although the use of these few craft by the Russian Air Force is very limited.
Russia’s latest model fighter, the Sukhoi Felon, or Su-57, has been used in Ukraine for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, according to British intelligence.
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This fifth-generation (classification designating the latest military aircraft) supersonic fighter has been in service since 2020. Russian aerospace companies have almost certainly used the Su-57 Felon to conduct operations against Ukraine.
However, the use of the Su-57 could be older. As our Le Figaro colleagues point out, a March 2022 report by Tass, a Russian state news agency, stated that the Su-57s could have been deployed in the weeks following the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
Very careful use
According to the “Ministry of Defense,” the missions of these Su-57s “were probably limited to flying over Russian territory and launching long-range air-to-surface or air-to-air missiles in Ukraine.” This lack of active involvement is certainly explained by Russia’s desire not to put its new model at risk, since any loss could seriously damage its reputation and result in Russia losing valuable orders.
The ministry’s statement said: “Russia is most likely trying to avoid reputational damage, a reduction in export prospects and a threat to sensitive technologies that would result from the loss of Felon in Ukraine.”
Few devices available
Russia mainly uses old models of fighter jets in Ukraine, but the level of its flight losses is unclear. Russia would have lost 25 Su-25s that entered service in 1981 and 11 Su-30s that were launched in 1996, according to the Oryx website, which lists losses confirmed by videos and pictures, while Ukraine’s tally is likely to overestimate 285 Russian planes shot down.
“Courage was mine and I had secrets;
Wisdom was mine and I had mastery.”Wilfred Owen
Total enemy combat losses from February 24 to January 10: pic.twitter.com/GunktyVnNe
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) January 10, 2023
“Recent footage shows five criminals stationed at Akhtubinsk air base,” more than 500 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. This is the only known criminal base, leading British intelligence to state that “these planes were likely involved in operations against Ukraine”.
However, it should be noted that despite the potential capabilities of this aircraft, its small number, estimated at around ten according to AeroTime News, would limit the impact of the Su-57 in the event of its prolonged service in Ukraine.