Russia Claims the Su-57 “Outshines” the F-35 (Again)
Visually, the Su-57 is impressive. But the whole purpose of stealth, long-range missiles, and beyond-visual-range detection is that if you can see the enemy with your eyes, you probably did something wrong.
Following the fifth-generation showdown at the “Aero India 2025” biennial air show at the Yelahanka Air Force Station, which began last Monday, Russia has continued to hype up its Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”).
At the start of the show, the Su-57 was already on the tarmac when a United States Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II arrived—presenting a “picture perfect moment” as the two fifth-gen fighters were photographed less than 100 feet apart. It was the closest the aircraft had ever been to one another to date, on the ground or in the air.
Officials at the Russian state-owned military-industrial conglomerate Rostec were quick to take a victory lap this week, suggesting on social media that they had developed the superior aircraft.
“Our Su-57 outperformed the American F-35 in the sky of Bengaluru,” Rosetc explained via its Telegram social messaging app, according to a report from Tass. The company further noted that at Aero India 2025, both fighters were seen in flight demonstrations, and during a nearly seven-minute flight, “the Su-57 performed more than 20 aerobatic maneuvers, including Pugachev’s Cobra, the Bell, the Barrel Roll, and others.”
Rostec also touted the Felon’s vectored thrust engines, which enable its maneuverability, and claimed it increased its survivability.
“These factors enhance maneuverability. The better the maneuverability, the greater the chances to get away from enemy missiles while suppressing its air defense system. This also increases the speed of the combat aircraft’s reaction to a changing environment,” Rostec emphasized, while downplaying the capabilities of the Lightning II. “The F-35 is largely a light attack aircraft for strikes on ground targets, while the Su-57 is a heavy multirole jet for gaining supremacy in the air, strikes on ground targets and command and control of other aircraft.”
Countering The Hype
Some aviation experts have suggested that the Su-57 is indeed a more maneuverable aircraft, which makes it very good for impressing crowds at air shows.Pugachev’s Cobra, for example, could be employed if a fighter jet is being closely pursued by an adversary.
Yet that may not truly make it the superior fighter. America’s fifth-generation fighters employ stealth technology and are armed with beyond-visual-range weapons. Superior maneuverability might be better for a non-stealth 4.5+ generation fighter, but given that the Su-57’s stealth has been repeatedly questioned, it would likely be blown out of the sky long before it could pull off those intricate maneuvers in an old-school dogfight.
As Simple Flying recently reported, the whole purpose of stealth, long-range missiles, and beyond-visual-range detection is that if you can see the enemy with your eyes, you probably did something wrong. That isn’t to say that maneuverability doesn’t matter—and it certainly impresses at air shows—but a lot of it would still come down to the pilot.
And, as has been reported previously, Russia has produced the Su-57 in only limited numbers, while the F-35 is a truly mature program. Not only is the Lightning II a proven warbird, but it has been enhanced and upgraded following a decade of service.
Maya Carlin, writing for The National Interest last fall, offered this assessment: “Despite Russia’s claims that the Su-57 is the most formidable fifth-gen platform to take to the skies, this airframe would have a rough time up against an F-35 in combat. In fact, the Kremlin has a history of exaggerating its military capabilities, and the Felon could very well be lacking in other areas as well.”
That could explain why the F-35 has been used with great success in combat and has seen constant demand from European and Middle Eastern customers, while the Su-57 has largely been absent from the skies over Ukraine and Rostec struggles to line up any foreign buyers.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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