The Su-57 could be the future of Russian military aviation – but there’s still a lot of questions hanging around the country’s first stealth fighter.

While Russia recently announced its desire to turn its first stealth fighter into a sixth generation plane, the Su-57 is still undergoing testing and has yet to be mass produced.

Moscow, nevertheless, touts the Su-57 as a more capable fighter than the F-22 Raptor, despite the fact that much of its capabilities are still classified.

While the two stealth planes are similar in design and other ways, they also have plenty of differences.

Here's what we know thus far about the Su-57:


The Su-57, originally called the T-50, made its maiden flight in January 2010.

Foto: source knaapo.ru

Source: United Aircraft Corporation


Russian President Vladimir Putin himself even checked out the Su-57 after it first flew.

Foto: Putin checking out the Su-57 after its maiden flight in 2010. source Associated Press

The most current Su-57 prototype is fitted with an Izdelie-30 engine, but it reportedly has been problematic and is slated to be tested near the end of 2017.

Foto: source Associated Press

The fighter also only needs about 1,100 feet of runway length to take off.

Source: TASS, globalsecurity.org, The National Interest


The Izdelie-30 engine, however, will reportedly provide the fighter with up to 70,000 pounds of thrust and a climbing rate of 70,000 feet per minute.

Foto: source United Aircraft Corporation

Source: globalsecurity.org


As well as a cruising speed of about 800 mph.

Foto: source United Aircraft Corporation

Source: globalsecurity.org


And a top speed of about 1,616 mph.

Foto: source Dmitry Terekhov/Flickr

The F-22, on the other hand, has a top speed of about 1,500 mph.

The Su-57 can also hit altitudes of about 65,000 feet, while the F-22 has a ceiling of about 50,000 feet.

Source: Sputnik, globalsecurity.org


The Su-57 holds a variety of bombs and missiles in its two large internal weapons bays.

Foto: source Associated Press

Source: The National Interest, Sputnik, globalsecurity.org


The graphic below shows all the missiles and bombs the Su-57 can hold.

Foto: source Anton Egorov

Not included in the graphic, however, is the jet's two internally mounted 30mm cannons.

This graphic from Sputnik gives a good overview of the Su-57's capabilities.


The Su-57 is also incredibly agile and maneuverable — some say more than the F-22 Raptor — and therefore can dodge missiles and put itself in strategic firing positions relatively easily.

Foto: source Associated Press

The Su-57 is reportedly equipped with three-dimensional thrust vector jets, while the F-22 only has two-dimensional thrust vector jets.

Some, however, are skeptical of the Su-57's agility.

Watch the Su-57's maneuverability below:

Source: The National Interest


It's also equipped with an OLS-50M infrared and tracking system, which the Raptor doesn't have.

Foto: source Associated Press

Source: The National Interest


The Su-57's stealth capabilities, however, have been questioned, and some analysts have even doubted that it's actually a fifth generation fighter.

Foto: source United Aircraft Corporation

While Russian media touts the Su-57 as an "aerial ghost," one scientist working on stealth aircraft for the US called it a "dirty aircraft," with many glaring flaws that would light up radars scanning for the plane.


Moscow even recently announced that it's looking to turn the Su-57 into a sixth generation fighter, meaning it would at least have unmanned capabilities.

Foto: source Associated Press

The shot above shows the Su-57 flying below an Su-34 during the 2017 MAKS air show.

Source: The Diplomat, The National Interest


Ultimately, though, it's difficult to tell whether the Su-57 or F-22 would win in a dogfight.

Foto: source Associated Press

The Su-57 is reportedly faster, but the F-22 is stealthier. The two fighters are also both extremely agile, but there is disagreement over which moves better.

The F-22 is also reportedly more lethal than the Su-57 at long ranges, giving it the edge in the initial stages of the fight. However, the Su-57's agility and infrared and tracking system might give it the edge in close combat.

Source: The National Interest, globalsecurity.org, The National Interest


The Su-57 is however still undergoing testing, and Russia will receive its first batch of 12 fighters only in 2019. The Raptor, on the other hand, has been operational since 2005.

Foto: Putin walking away from the Su-57 in 2010. source Associated Press

Source: The National Interest, Business Insider