On Monday, February 9, 2026, the Russian state corporation Rostec announced that its subsidiary, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), had delivered the first batch this year of Su-57 multirole aircraft (NATO reporting name: Felon) to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), in a variant featuring modified onboard equipment and armament.
Photo: Rostec
According to the press release, a large batch of next-generation aircraft was delivered, although the exact number was not specified. This reflects the new information policy of the Russian Ministry of Defense adopted since the outbreak of the full-scale war against Ukraine.
The aircraft were produced at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAPO), owned by United Aircraft Corporation, located in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia’s Far East. They completed a full cycle of factory tests, were accepted by technical personnel, tested in various operating modes by pilots of the Russian Ministry of Defense, and then transferred to their home bases.
“Our aircraft factories are clearly and on schedule fulfilling their tasks of supplying equipment to our servicemen. At the same time, we are not only producing aircraft; they are continuously being improved, taking into account the customer’s needs and real combat operating conditions. The Su-57 is a powerful weapon that has proven its effectiveness on the front line. It has many capabilities. The fifth-generation complex can be employed even in environments where the enemy operates the most advanced air defense systems. Today we have handed over aircraft to the troops that have become even more powerful and more dangerous,” said Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec.
“To fulfill the target tasks set by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation regarding the delivery of highly demanded types of weapons and military equipment to the troops, the Aerospace Forces crews have accepted Su-57 aircraft in a new technical configuration. I thank the plant representatives and all UAC employees involved in the creation, assembly, and preparation of the aviation equipment for their professionalism. The aircraft has already performed well during the special military operation. The new technical configuration will contribute to expanding the range of missions assigned to this aircraft type. The promising capabilities of the aviation weapons complex make it possible to employ new types of airborne weapons,” noted a Su-57 pilot from the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Although the Russians did not disclose details of the modifications in the press release, their implementation had been known for some time. The upgrades reportedly include a new head-up display (HUD), formation lights, and additional side sensors warning of incoming missile launches. Until now, the 101KS-U/01 Atoll ultraviolet missile warning system featured one sensor behind the canopy and another on the lower fuselage. The pilot also had access to the 101KS-O laser-based defense system against infrared-guided missiles.
The previous Su-57 delivery took place on November 11, 2024, and likely included three aircraft. Earlier, on September 28, 2023, probably two aircraft were delivered.
To date, Russia has received approximately 30–35 Su-57 aircraft out of the 76 ordered in 2019 for 160–170 billion RUB, with deliveries scheduled through 2028, including prototypes. On June 9, 2024, two aircraft may have been damaged during a Ukrainian attack on the airfield of the research center in Akhtubinsk; one aircraft crashed on December 24, 2019.
Meanwhile, on December 22, 2025, the T-50-2 prototype (No. 052 Blue) conducted its maiden flight with the izdeliye 177 turbofan engine, an interim solution pending the delayed NPO Saturn AL-51F1 (izdeliye 30; previously referred to as the Phase II engine), which is intended to replace the AL-41F1. The Russians also tested a flat exhaust nozzle for the AL-51F1 on this airframe.
During the Dubai Airshow 2025 (November 17–24), the CEO of United Aircraft Corporation, Vadim Badeha, revealed that deliveries of the first two Su-57E aircraft to an export customer – Algeria – had begun.
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