The sanctions worked: Russia has suspended the production
The supply of new invasors Lockheed Martin F-35 "Lightning" to the US armed forces and their allies resumed after a year break. And at the other end of the world, Korean Aerospace Industries in South Korea builds the first KF-21 invasion fighter. However, in Russia, the production of an invisible Su-57 fighter (NATO classification "Felon") went into a dead end.
"Obviously, the Russian military industry is highly dependent on the western components, especially in electronics," the Ukrainian analytical group Froneteligence Insight explained. The sanctions imposed by the Western governments for 31 months since Russia began a full -scale invasion of Ukraine, strangled the supply of this critical equipment. As a result "Su-57 production is in danger.
A large, fast fighter with radar properties, a single, two-engine SU-57-it was Russia's response to American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. It was called to replace the old MiG-29 and so- 27 and their modifications in the Russian Air Force. 10 test models. . Meanwhile, the Russian Air Force lost two SU-57-one experimental sample and one serial aircraft due to accidents.
The strike of the Ukrainian drone on the Russian State Flight and Testing Center of Akhtubinsk in southern Russia in June destroyed at least one more Su-57 on Earth. It is possible that 14 years after the first flight of this fighter in the Russian arsenal, about 30 SU-57, a third of which are test models that potentially do not have some planned electronic components.
It is a scanty force for the air wing that unfolds about a thousand fighters of the front line - and which has lost a hundred of them in battle over Ukraine since February 2022. The impressive, but the rate of supply of new SU-57, seems to have decreased significantly from 2023 to 2024. Usually, the pace of supply of new types of fighters increases from year to year for years of order, as workers gain experience and start saving at the expense of scale. The exception to this rule is SU-57.
It is obvious that the purposeful sanctions of the United States and their allies slowed down the modernization of the Russian Air Force. Studying Russian documents, Frontelligence Insight found some of the main narrow places, including the WA36 attenuator (an electronic device that reduces the amplitude or signal power without significant distortion of its form-ed. ) The components are part of the MPPU-50-a German device for calibrating communication systems at the Su-57.
Previously, Sukhoi could legally import the MPPU-50 and details for the MPPU-50, now he has to buy them illegally from third parties, including in China. However, illegal imports take time, effort and money, as well as slowed down the production of new Su-57 and probably increased the cost of each aircraft. Back in 2020, at least one Russian commentator urged the Kremlin to review the Aviation Modernization Plan. And update the MiG-29 line instead of making "gold" Su-57.
Arguments against SU-57 and for the restoration of production of old and simpler types of jet aircraft have become even more significant now, when the Russian industry is experiencing difficulty with obtaining critically important foreign components. But even the Russian turn to less perfect fighters will be a kind of victory for Russia's enemies. The Su-57 program was to help the Russian Air Force OPC.
But Sukohi takes so much time to build a small amount of SU-57 that Americans are actually rushing forward, talking technologically. The US Air Force already defines the requirements for a new invisible fighter, which will replace 180 F-22. This new Next Generation Air Dominance fighter can rise in the air before the Russians finally receive the 76th and the last Su-57 from the initial production order.