The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed via satellite photos that Russia is using five fifth-generation Su-57 Felon (NATO codename) fighters against targets in Ukraine.
Rumors that the Russian Aerospace Forces [VKS] had deployed some Su-57s for operations against Ukrainian air defense systems had surfaced in June 2022, when Russian news sources commented that «the Russian Aerospace Forces conducted an operation to identify and destroy Ukrainian air defense systems using a flight of four new Su-57 multirole fighters. The aircraft were combined in an information network through automatic communication, data transmission, navigation and real-time identification systems.»
And now, this information is confirmed by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of the United Kingdom through a publication on its social networks.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 9 January 2023
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/MFEwqMMnI3
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/mdjvswJrWJ
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 9, 2023
“Since at least June 2022, Russian Aerospace Forces have almost certainly used Su-57 FELON to conduct missions against Ukraine. FELON is Russia’s most advanced fifth-generation supersonic combat jet, employing stealth technologies and highly advanced avionics.”
Commercial satellite images, taken on December 25, made it possible to identify the presence of five Su-57 Felon at the Akhtubinsk airbase, which houses the 929th Flight Test Center. It is estimated that the fighters would be operating from there.
(6/6) Defence Intelligence analysis of this satellite image, dated 25 December 2022, identified five Su-57 FELON multirole aircraft at Akhtubinsk airfield, Russia. pic.twitter.com/UT1lMXwsxb
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 9, 2023
According to the UK MoD, the Su-57’s missions are likely limited to launching long-range air-to-surface or air-to-air missiles against Ukrainian targets, from the safety of Russian airspace; for fear that, due to combat action or a technical malfunction, one of its most advanced combat aircraft may end up crashing in enemy territory and its sensitive technology may be seriously compromised.
Another argument put forward by the British Ministry of Defense is that the possibility of losing an Su-57 during war operations would seriously damage the reputation of Russian military technology (already hit hard since the start of the conflict), also negatively impacting their export expectations. This would be symptomatic of Russia’s continued risk aversion in using its air force in the war.
See also: The upgraded Su-57 flew for the first time
Despite sources from Russia claiming that the Su-57’s stealth technology is effective and that no NATO radar has been able to detect it so far, prudence is likely to continue to restrict its use in combat, as these are aircraft that are at an early stage of its production, and the possibility of some vital element failing is real, with all the consequences that this could entail
