12 April 2026

A fire broke out in a workshop at the KnAAZ aircraft plant named after Yuri Gagarin, part of Sukhoi, which produces the Su-35S and Su-57 fighter jets.

The Telegram channel Exilenova+ published the video of the fire.

Analysts from the CyberBoroshno community identified the fire as occurring in workshop No. 46 of the plant based on available footage and reports.

The workshop specializes in producing polymer composite parts for the Su-57, including about 300 components, around 100 of them large, such as aileron panels, air intakes, flaperons, flooring, and wing tips.

In Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Khabarovsk Krai), a workshop at the Gagarin Aviation Plant (KnAAZ, "Sukhoi") is on fire.

Preliminarily, one of the workshops, which specializes in auxiliary units, without which mass production could be halted, is on fire.

Let's hope the fire won't get… pic.twitter.com/7cuSz83qxF

— Exilenova+ (@Exilenova_plus) April 11, 2026

Production is largely manual. In 2016, the plant introduced partial automation, including a laser material marking system.

Workshop No. 46 is a critical part of serial production for both the Su-57 and Su-35S. Damage there affects Su-57 output more, as it relies far more on composite parts than the Su-30MK2 and Su-35S.

Russian sources say manufacturing a full set of composite parts for the Su-57 in this workshop requires eight times more labor than for the Su-35S.

Analysts note that damage or destruction of the workshop could halt or significantly slow Su-57 airframe assembly. Cooperation with ONPP Technologiya would only partly offset the impact and with delays.

Geolocation of the fire at the Yuri Gagarin aircraft plant. Infographics: CyberBoroshno

In 2025, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant produced seven batches of Su-35S, though batch sizes were not disclosed. Estimates suggest 2-3 aircraft per batch.

Deliveries of the Su-35S are part of a major defense order announced in 2024, which runs through 2030. The company states that the plant is operating at full capacity.

Assembly of a Russian Su-57 fighter jet at the KnAAZ plant, December 2022. Photo credits: RIA Novosti

The plant also delivered two Su-57 fighter jets to the Russian Armed Forces in 2025. The total number of Su-57s, including prototypes, is estimated at 20-25 aircraft.

Two aircraft were damaged in a Ukrainian drone strike in June 2024. It is unclear whether they have been repaired.

Fire Reported at Russian Plant Producing Su-35S, Su-57