Associated Press
Russian President Vladimir Putin stands in front of a prototype of the Su-57.
- Russian Deputy Russian
Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko announced that the country's air force would receive its much-hyped Su-57 "stealth" fighter jets by the end of 2019. - But a review of Russian media reports by The Diplomat indicate that Russia could get just two Su-57s by the end of 2020.
- Russia previously announced that the Su-57 wouldn't hit serial production, and only 10 or so of the aircraft exist.
- Russia intended the Su-57 as a stealth fighter jet that could kill the US's F-35 and F-22s, but an expert explained to Business Insider why it has failed in that role.
Russian Deputy Russian Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko announced that the country's air force would recieve its much-hyped Su-57 "stealth" fighter jets by the end of 2019, according to Russian media.
But Krivoruchko didn't specify how many of the jets Russia would build, and a report from $4 tracked other Russian media reports as placing the figure as low as two aircraft by the end of 2020.
Russia has built 10 prototype Su-57s for testing and even deployed two to Syria. In Syria, the Su-57s, which Russia calls a "fifth-generation multirole fighter jet," $4 before being quickly flown back home and deemed "combat proven."
At the time, Business Insider spoke to combat air experts who called the brief $4. This falls in line with the Su-57's history of inflated claims.
Business Insider interviewed a senior scientist that builds US stealth aircraft who examined pictures of the Su-57 and found that Russia likely $4. As early as 2016, IHS Jane's said the jet was $4
Since then, Russia has backed out of serial production of the Su-57, but perhaps for good reason.
Associated Press
Russia looks to have picked updating old fighters over attempting new ones.
Justin Bronk, an aerial combat expert at the Royal United Services Institute $4 that Russia likely realized the Su-57 it didn't have the potential - even with upgrades and maturation - to ever work out to be worth its cost with Moscow's shrinking economy. At about $40 million a unit, Russia's Su-57 is less than half the price of an F-35, but considerably more expensive than its other jets.
"Russia is more or less admitting defeat in building a feasible fifth-generation fighter," Bronk said.
While Russia $4, which have both seen mass production and actual combat engagements, Bronk said the Su-57 doesn't make sense in that role.
Instead of clinging to a failed stealth airframe, Bronk said Russia can simply put newer radars and better missiles on its older jets to better confront US forces.