It’s a question frequently asked by military analysts and enthusiasts alike: how many Su-57 does Russia have in its active inventory? The answer, as of early to mid-2025, remains somewhat opaque due to Russia’s inherent secrecy surrounding its military assets, especially during ongoing conflicts and amidst Western sanctions. However, open-source intelligence (OSINT) and various defense reports offer a relatively consistent picture.
While Russia initially laid out ambitious plans to acquire a significant number of Su-57s, the actual production and delivery rate has been slower than projected. The original contract, signed in 2019, called for the delivery of 76 aircraft by 2028. This would eventually form three full aviation regiments, significantly bolstering the Russian Aerospace Force’s fifth-generation capabilities. However, meeting this target has proven challenging for the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and its Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAPO), the primary production facility.
As of early 2025, various estimates from defense institutes and analytical platforms suggest that the number of operational Su-57s in the Russian Aerospace Force (VKS) is relatively small. Reports from the International Institute for Strategic Studies and other defense publications in April and May 2025 indicated that Russia had approximately 16 to 20 operational Su-57s. Some sources even cited numbers like 19 in service as of April 2025, with seven of these having been delivered throughout 2023-2024. These numbers represent serial production aircraft, separate from the initial prototypes used for testing and development. So, how many Su-57 does Russia have remains a modest figure.
Production rates have seen some increases, with claims of three batches of Su-57s delivered in 2024, though the exact number of aircraft in each batch is often not disclosed. While Russian officials have indicated efforts to ramp up production, including expanding facilities at Komsomolsk-on-Amur, challenges such as sanctions impacting component supply (particularly microelectronics) and overall industrial capacity continue to hinder a rapid acceleration. This means that while Russia aims to produce up to 16 Su-57s yearly, the practical output has been lower. The question of how many Su-57 does Russia have is constantly evolving, but the overall trajectory points to a gradual, rather than rapid, increase.
The Su-57 has seen limited deployment in the conflict in Ukraine, primarily for launching long-range missiles from within Russian-controlled airspace, minimizing exposure to Ukrainian air defenses. This cautious approach highlights that despite being an advanced platform, Russia appears hesitant to risk its precious fifth-generation assets, partly due to the relatively low numbers. Therefore, when considering how many Su-57 does Russia have and their operational use, it’s clear they are not being used as a primary workhorse like older fourth-generation aircraft.
Beyond domestic use, Russia has also confirmed that the first export deliveries of the Su-57E variant to a foreign customer will commence in 2025. While the customer hasn’t been officially named, Algeria is widely speculated to be the recipient, with reports suggesting an initial batch of six aircraft. This export success could potentially help fund further domestic production and reduce the per-unit cost of the Su-57. However, the export numbers are separate from how many Su-57 does Russia have in its own air force.
In conclusion, while the Su-57 program represents Russia’s significant technological ambition in fifth-generation fighter development, the answer to how many Su-57 does Russia have in active service is still a relatively small number, likely in the range of 16 to 20 operational aircraft as of mid-2025. The production is steadily increasing, but ongoing challenges mean that achieving the initial target of 76 aircraft by 2028 will require a substantial acceleration in the coming years.
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