In mid-May this year, russian propaganda outlets claimed that a Su-57 was being used to counter Ukraine's long-range drones. No confirmation has emerged that the fighter has been used in this role.
However, on July 6, 2026, this was confirmed. Reports from Omsk, located 2,500 kilometers from Ukraine's border, revealed that the russian Aerospace Forces used Su-57 fighters to intercept Ukrainian long-range drones.
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russians tried to use Su-57s to protect the Omsk oil refinery, but were unsuccessful.
At the same time, just a few days ago, a photo of a russian Su-57 fighter jet in an "anti-drone configuration" appeared online. The aircraft was equipped with four short-range R-73 or R-74 air-to-air missiles mounted on external hardpoints, as well as a pod of unidentified purpose under the left engine.
The combination of R-73 or R-74 air-to-air missiles and the pod may itself point to the possible use of russian Su-57s against Ukrainian deep-strike operations. It is also worth considering the arguments presented in The War Zone's article.
First of all, it is noteworthy that the air-to-air missiles were mounted on external hardpoints rather than in the internal weapons bay. These were likely R-73 missiles, which, due to their dimensions, are not compatible with the Su-57's internal weapon stations. The R-74, by contrast, is designed for carriage in the internal weapons bay.
It should be noted that the Su-57 can carry the medium-range R-77 and long-range R-37M air-to-air missiles. This further suggests that the configuration, with short-range air-to-air missiles mounted on external hardpoints, was intended to counter enemy UAVs—in other words, to defend against the Ukrainian Armed Forces' deep-strike operations.
According to TWZ, a pod containing the 101KS-N electro-optical suite may have been mounted under the Su-57's left engine. This equipment could theoretically be used to counter not only ground targets but also small aerial objects, such as drones.
The estimated number of Su-57s in service with the russian Aerospace Forces is approximately 20 units. russians prefer not to use them for high-risk missions, limiting their use to firing air-to-air missiles or Kh-59/69 cruise missiles at a considerable distance from the front lines.
From Defense Express would like to note that on the night of April 25, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck two Su-57 aircraft at Shagol airfield, 1,700 kilometers from Ukraine's border, marking the second known attack on the type since the start of the full-scale war.
Ivan Kyrychevskiy, serviceman of the 413th Raid Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine and weapons expert at Defense Express.
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