Photographs of serial fifth-generation Su-57 fighters, taken in Novosibirsk during landing at Tolmachevo Airport, spread on social networks on April 10.
The tail numbers of the fighters were unretouched for the first time, which caused controversy about the number of Su-57s in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). The tail numbers of the combat vehicles are 25 (RF-81796) and 26 (RF-81797).
The numbers gave rise to disputes and speculation that the 25th and 26th serial machines allegedly appeared on the Web, which are heading to the place of service from the factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where they are produced under the first contract for 76 aircraft until 2027.
After 2022, the Russian Aerospace Forces and the United Aircraft Corporation constantly report on the delivery of the next batch, only the number of fighters in the batch is not named and their tail numbers are retouched in the photo.
It turns out that the appearance of machines with numbers «25» and «26» is not necessarily associated with their delivery to the Russian Aerospace Forces in April 2025. But even if this is the case, you should not rely on the fact that all numbers are necessarily applied in order or machines with them immediately fall into the lenses of photographers. In general, the main conclusion of this story is that serial Su-57s are in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces and actively fly over our vast country.
The Su-57 is the only fifth-generation combat fighter equipped with a supersonic adjustable low-observable air intake, providing the world's best maneuverability, range and flight duration characteristics.
Earlier www1.ru reported that a new communication system for kamikaze drones has been developed in Russia: bypasses all existing electronic warfare equipment.
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