The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported that on June 8, 2024, russian Su-57 stealth multirole fighter was hit for the first time at the Akhtubynsk airfield. This is confirmed by the relevant satellite images. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine added that russian Aerospace Forces have only several units of Su-57 fighters. Such aircraft were used to attack the territory of Ukraine with cruise missiles of Kh-59 and Kh-69 types.
This case can be called historical. This is the first time russians have lost Su-57 aircraft during the full-scale war against Ukraine. Therefore, we can say that russian Su-57 became the first aircraft of the conventional "5th generation" in the history to be destroyed.
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It is possible to say that russian military industry has failed to bring the Su-57 to the full level of a 5th generation fighter. Therefore, it is necessary to determine which gradation in the 4th generation this aircraft belongs to. But it will be more productive to explain how significant a loss the damaged Su-57 is for russians, and how such aircraft were used in the war against Ukraine.
At the beginning of 2024, russian Aerospace Forces had only up to 10 Su-57 aircraft at its disposal. This makes this type of aircraft the rarest for russians.
It is known that the Akhtubinsk airfield is the base for the 929th State Flight Test Center of the Ministry of Defense of the russian federation. Therefore, it can be assumed that even at the moment, Su-57 might not yet be fully operational in russian Aerospace Forces. These aircraft may still be used in the experimental combat duty mode.
In 2022, russian propagandists claimed that their military industry was able to produce as many as 6 aircraft of this type, bringing the number of available Su-57s to 10. However, russians were able to show only two of the claimed jets in the photo.
According to the IISS, russians managed to produce several Su-57s in 2023. This suggests that russian Aerospace Forces may have up to 10 Su-57s at their disposal.
russians used Su-57 in the war against Ukraine for the first time in April 2022. At that time, they were used to launch missiles at targets in Kirovohrad Oblsasts and the port infrastructure of Odesa Odesa, without entering Ukrainian airspace.
At the same time, the UK Ministry of Defense stated that russians had began using their Su-57s no later than June 2022. And they are used not only for cruise missile launches, but also allegedly for air-to-air missile launches.
Earlier Defense Express reported that Czechia had prepared to assist Ukraine in training pilots for F-16 and Gripen jets.
Read more: Czechia Prepared to Assist Ukraine in Training Pilots for F-16 and Gripen Jets
