Jul 23, 2026 13:38
A Russian military aircraft crashed near Zvenigorod in the Moscow region, with preliminary reports suggesting it may have been a Su-57, Russia’s only operational fifth-generation fighter, Russian media Astra reported on July 23.
Astra stated that the pilots likely managed to eject before the aircraft went down. No official confirmation of the aircraft type, crew condition, or cause of the crash has yet been released.
If confirmed as a Su-57, the loss would be significant for Russia’s combat aviation fleet. Moscow has promoted the aircraft as one of its most advanced platforms, capable of air-superiority, strike, and air-defense missions, but it has entered service only in limited numbers.
The Su-57 emerged from Russia’s PAK-FA program, launched in 2001 to develop a new frontline combat aircraft. Sukhoi unveiled the first full-scale mock-up in 2004, while the initial T-50 prototype made its first flight in 2010.
Ten prototypes were eventually produced for testing. The aircraft received the Su-57 designation in 2017, but its path into operational service was repeatedly delayed despite Russian claims that serial production began in 2019.
The first production aircraft was accepted into service in 2020—a decade after the prototype’s maiden flight.
Estimates place the domestic procurement cost of a Su-57 at approximately $35 million to $50 million per aircraft, although export versions and complete support packages can cost considerably more.
The exact circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, and the reported identification of the aircraft as a Su-57 has not yet been officially verified.
Previously, Ukraine’s Air Force confirmed that Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian aircraft, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet, with an estimated cost of up to $85 million.
“Ten prototypes were eventually produced for testing.”
It appears the orcs need to go back to testing this junk.
I shall never forget how the chinks made fun of this plane when it was on display in bat virus land.
These planes are copies of American 5th generation aircraft, and bad ones at that. Ditto the chink ones.
20 years to develop this junk. It still can’t fly and has the stealth capabilities of an elephant is a small room.
Exactly. As I remember it, stealth is not possible with external engines.
The cockroach engineers thought that just copying the shape of our stealth planes would do the trick. Reality is teaching them how stupid they really are.
Strange, very strange.