Russia Expands Su-57 Combat Ops. in Ukraine with ‘Whole Formations’ of Fifth Generation Jets Launching Attacks

The Russian Aerospace Forces have significantly increased use of the Su-57 Felon sixth generation fighter for combat operations in the Ukrainian theatre, accordingly to multiple sources with links to Ukrainian military observers. “Whole formations of Su-57s have already been observed in action,” according to a report by the Ukrainian-linked analyst ‘Sonyashnyk,’ were previously operations were limited to smaller numbers of fighters. Regarding the growing complexity of operations, the source noted: “one aircraft provides cover using long-range R-77M air-to-air missiles while another pair conducts strikes with Kh-69 cruise missiles or precision-guided bombs.” The operations appear to be intended to refine armament options and test new tactics for utilising the fighters against well defended targets.

Intensified Su-57 operations have reportedly allowed a new class of air-to-surface missile to be tested under combat conditions, which some sources have indicated may be a hybrid between a drone and a cruise missile. Ukrainian sources have informally dubbed it the Kh-71K, with the missile reported to be particularly difficult to detect by radar and to be capable of making sharp evasive manoeuvres. It was previously reported by Ukrainain sources in May 2024, and again in September that year, that Su-57 units had intensified their strikes on the country, with Kh-59MK2 radar evading cruise missile reported to have been used in the majority of these operations. For air-to-air combat, the fighters are reported to have also combat tested both the R-37M, and a miniaturised derivative of the missile. A report in January 2023 by the British Defence Ministry highlighting that the fighters were “launching long range air to surface or air to air missiles into Ukraine,” and had been involved in operations “since at least June 2022.”

Prior operations by the Su-57 against Ukrainain targets have included air defence suppression, air to air combat, and operations in heavily defended enemy airspace, as well as a range of precision strike missions using both internally and externally deployed missiles. No other fifth generation fighter class in the world is known to have had similar levels of combat testing over a prolonged period. The Su-57 fleet is nevertheless hindered by its small size, as while Russian industry had set a highly ambitious target of a 67 percent surge in the production of Su-57s in 2024, only two batches were confirmed to have been delivered that year. Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces Lieutenant General Alexander Maksimtsev nevertheless in late July confirmed that preparations are underway for the deliveries of Su-57 fifth generation fighters at an accelerated rate. It is expected that the fighters will continue to test new armaments in the Ukrainian theatre, with a new air launched hypersonic missile and a new class of very long ranged cruise missile based on the Kh-101/102 both reported to have been integrated onto the aircraft in August 2025 and October 2023 respectively.