Russia now announces use of SU-57 as aircraft put into service under the name Weapon Z

The Russian Defense Ministry has unveiled the SU-57 stealth fighter jet as part of the Weapon Z series, a new category of weapons linked to the conflict in Ukraine. These weapons, sometimes called “victory weapons” or “Wunderwaffen” by anti-Russian advocates, were announced alongside other systems now officially in service. These include new AI-powered drones, the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, as well as the Poseidon and Sarmat nuclear delivery systems, and finally the iconic Su-57, but is it such an iconic fighter jet?
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The SU-57 is a Russian fifth-generation multi-role combat aircraft designed to destroy all types of air, surface and naval targets.

The main feature of the SU-57 is its combination of combat aircraft and combat aircraft functions. It can use a wide range of guided and unguided weapons, including air-to-air missiles, guided air-to-ground missiles, and steerable aerial bombs. The SU-57 is difficult to detect by enemy radars due to its electronic warfare capabilities, special shape, and use of materials that absorb and reflect radio waves. To reduce radio visibility, part of the armament is housed in the internal wings of the aircraft. These features prevent the enemy from obtaining information about the aircraft's position and speed.

The aircraft's onboard equipment allows it to perform tasks autonomously and share data in real time with ground control systems and as part of an aircraft group. This capability aligns with the concept of a combat management system of Western fleets.

In summary, the SU-57 aims to rival the F-22, although specific details are scarce. This aircraft enjoys a large fan base and is the subject of many myths, being presented as a “miracle weapon”. However, a reported strike could have destroyed a unit, potentially reducing the operational fleet to 25 units, which is generally insufficient for an effective fleet. The stealth of the SU-57 is largely based on deflecting radar waves in different directions using angular and smooth structures. Yet the aircraft has additional external mounting points, which significantly reduces its stealth capabilities.

It is also known that the Sukhoi 57 was repeatedly used during operations in Ukraine to conduct long-range bombing. However, it seems that its use was not carried out in areas covered by Ukrainian radar.
In addition, we are not sure that the development of the Su-57 will continue over time, the Sukhoi design bureau is working on the SU-75, which is expected to be a failure due to the lack of investors.