Ready for the F-35? Russian Military Receives New Su-57 Fighters Upgraded with Enhanced Air-to-air Capability

Russian Military Receives Upgraded Su-57 Fighters Russian troops have received a batch of Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets in a new technical configuration, the Rostec press service reported.

The aircraft were manufactured by the United Aircraft Corporation, part of Rostec, and delivered to the Russian Ministry of Defense with updated onboard systems and weapons.

The jets underwent a full cycle of factory testing and were evaluated by military pilots in various operating modes to ensure readiness and performance.

Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov said, “This fifth-generation system can be used against even the most advanced enemy air defense systems. Today, we have delivered to the troops aircraft that have become even more powerful and dangerous.”

New missiles for the Su-57

R-37M (RVV-BD) (Long-Range): A 300–400 km range missile designed to intercept high-value targets, widely considered one of the longest-reaching air-to-air missiles in service.

K-77M (Medium/Long-Range): An upgraded, highly agile replacement for the R-77-1, featuring conventional fins for internal carriage in the Su-57 and an improved active phased array antenna (AESA) seeker.

R-74M2 (Short-Range): An upgraded infrared-homing dogfight missile designed for the Su-57's internal bays.