Russia Finally Begins Serial Production Of The Su-57 Stealth Fighter

Popular Mechanics: Ten Years Later, Russia Finally Begins Production of the Su-57 Stealth Fighter

Moscow’s first fifth-generation fighter is mysteriously cheaper but might be too little, too late.

Russia’s first fifth generation fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57, has entered serial production. Under the terms of a contract signed last June United Aircraft Corporation will produce 76 Su-57s, with the first jet likely to enter service before the end of 2019.

First sighted in 2010, the Su-57 takes its name from the famous Sukhoi Design Bureau. The Su-57 was a previously unknown design and its appearance took the West by surprise. The Su-57 is described as a “fifth-generation fighter,” a term referring to to the fifth-generation of post World War II fighter jets. Fifth-generation fighter jets typically include a stealthy design, the ability to cruise at speeds of Mach 1 or greater, and a powerful radar and the ability to send and receive data with friendly forces in a networked environment.

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WNU Editor: Like the U.S. Air Force's F-35. Years late. Over budget. And still mired with technical issues.