Russia’s Su-57 Felon Fighter Is Now Fighting in the Ukraine War

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Key Points and Summary: Recent reports suggest Russia’s Su-57 Felon stealth fighters are playing an increasingly significant role in Ukraine, marking a shift in Russian aerial tactics.

-In a December 31 strike targeting Kyiv and Vasylkiv Air Base, Su-57s reportedly launched missiles like the Kh-69 and Kinzhal to dismantle Ukrainian air defenses.

-These missions, executed from Russian airspace and coordinated with MiG-31 interceptors and Tu-95MS bombers, aim to open paths for subsequent missile strikes on cities and bases.

-While Ukraine’s defenses have largely thwarted Russian air dominance, these evolving multi-platform tactics may pose new challenges, highlighting the need for upgraded systems like THAAD.

Have the Russians Changes Aerial Tactics to Feature the Su-57 Felon?

If Russian military sources can be believed (and they often exaggerate for more significant public relations effect), the Su-57 is playing a more significant role during the war in Ukraine. 

The Su-57 Felon stealth fighter has been used sparingly so far, but that may have changed if Vladimir Putin’s generals put out accurate information. 

The Su-57 and other airplanes reportedly just fired Kh-69, Kinzhal, and Iskander-M missiles at ground targets in Ukraine. 19FortyFive cannot confirm that with our sources, but that is what is being reported in various media. 

Su-57 Felon: This Could Be a New Play from a Struggling Offense

The last strike with the weapons happened on December 31 in the Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kyiv regions. The mission was designed to take out Ukrainian air defense systems. 

This may mean that the Russian Air Force has identified a more effective playbook for air superiority – a condition the service branch failed to achieve during the war. 

This tactical development comprises the stealth Su-57 targeting cities and air bases where air defenses are thickest and then destroying surface-to-air missile systems. 

This can pave the way for bombers to deliver even more missiles and precision-guided munitions aimed at cities.

Ukrainian Sources Admitted that Missiles Landed

Many of the strikes were targeted at the capital and Vasylkiv Air Base, and even the Ukrainians admitted the attack happened. 

The Euromaidan Press said, “Kyiv and Vasylkiv were preliminarily hit by a combined attack with Iskanders and six guided missiles.” 

Those six guided missiles may have been Kinzhals or Kh-69s, although it is unclear. This could also mean more than one Su-57 was on a ground strike mission.

Russian Fighters and Bombers Unite 

However, the Su-57s reportedly were flying within Russian air space when they fired the weapons, and they were accompanied by “MiG-31 interceptors and Tu-96MS strategic bombers, underlining a complex multi-platform approach to the operation,” according to BulgarianMilitary.com.

If true, this configuration would back up my estimation of the Russian aerial tactics comprising of Su-57s flying to destroy Ukrainian air defenses – a tactic allowing bombers to attack with more munitions in a follow-on maneuver.

This mission set could herald a new way for the Russians to attack Ukraine from the air. The Su-57 is a notable inclusion into offensive operations, although it is not likely to fly over Ukraine and will probably still conduct missions over Russian air space. Tu-95MS bombers are many decades old but powerful and can carry a large payload of missiles and precision-guided munitions.

Is the Ukrainian Missile Defense System Up to the Task?

Ukraine may be concerned about its missile defenses if the Su-57 attacks with hypersonics and if other air-to-ground weapons continue to be successful against air defenses around bases and cities.

The Kh-69 is a long-range air-to-ground missile that will probably see more action in this combat mission. The Kh-69 is not a headliner but is still part of the Air Force’s ground strike arsenal. It can fly high or low and sometimes outmaneuver, avoiding detection from enemy radar installations. The Iskander-M is often fired from ground launchers and is a shorter-range ballistic missile. The Iskander-M can carry nuclear warheads. 

The Kinzhal is typically described as a hypersonic missile that is a featured weapon of the Russian air force that Putin likes to brag about. 

This Could Be a Signal that Russia Has Finally Found Something That Works

The Russian air force may have found a recipe for success if the last operation on December 31 is confirmed. The Su-57 does have stealth attributes and can deliver many different types of missiles. When they pair it with bombers after air defenses have been eroded, it is more effective than the regular glide bomb attacks that Russia often uses against cities.

Thus, the Russians may have finally found some tactics and techniques that could work better after almost three years of war. This flight of fighters and bombers could overwhelm the Ukrainians, although Volodymyr Zelensky’s air defense layer has effectively prevented Russians from maintaining air dominance during the war. Ukraine may want to better guard their military bases with more modern radars and surface-to-air missiles. That is why the country wants THAAD missile defenders to improve the protection of cities and installations.

However, Russia could simply be bragging about this latest missile strike and overstating how effective it was. The Su-57 has not dominated this war as much as Putin would like, but that could change. Russian aerial battle planners will likely note the reaction from Ukrainian media sources. News outlets from Kyiv admitted the missile attack, so it could mean Zelensky and his generals are concerned about further multi-platform missions that employ these Russian tactics.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.