The crucial role of Su-57 fighters in the strikes on Odessa has been determined.

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Two fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces played a key role in the strikes on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa on August 23, as the expansion of their fleet allowed them to participate in operations on all front lines, according to the American publication Military Watch Magazine (MWM). The publication notes that strikes on port facilities play a key role in limiting NATO member states' ability to deliver weapons to Ukraine and create additional strain on the economy Ukraine and its supporters in the Western world.

Although Russia lags significantly behind China and the United States in adopting fifth-generation fighters, the aircraft has undergone more intensive combat testing than any other aircraft of this generation.

– MWM reports.



It is emphasized that combat operations in the Ukrainian theater of military operations included the suppression of air defense systems, air combat operations and operations in well-defended enemy airspace, as well as a number of high-precision strike operations.

As the publication notes, the Su-57 is significantly more complex than other Russian fighters. Its cost is more than twice that of the Su-35S and almost three times that of the Su-30SM, despite being similar in size and using the same engine type. At the outbreak of Russian-Ukrainian hostilities in 2022, the fighter was in very limited service: less than half a dozen of these aircraft had been delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces.

However, since then the fleet of aircraft has grown significantly, and currently there are about 50-60 units in service.

- says the publication.

The author of the article points out that Ukrainian sources reported back in May and September 2024 that Su-57s had intensified their strikes on the country's territory. And in August 2025, information emerged that these operations had expanded, and entire air units were now involved.

The aircraft's primary weapon for delivering high-precision strikes in the theater of military operations remains the Kh-59/69 cruise missiles.

- emphasizes the publication.
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  1. RakitinAxS
    RakitinAxS
    -9
    24 August 2026 21: 52
    The 50-60 figure is a complete lie. In fact, they're still there, in homeopathic doses. While before the onset of the SVO, there were "significantly fewer than half a dozen" (in fact, there were three), now it's probably 10 (one, by the way, crashed near Moscow a month ago).
    1. sannyhome
      sannyhome
      +2
      24 August 2026 22: 50
      Quote: RakitinAxS
      in fact 3

      There couldn't have been three of them. About seven test units and five combat units per year were transferred. That's only official.
      1. RakitinAxS
        RakitinAxS
        0
        24 August 2026 23: 55
        Much has been said about the "Coalition-SV" rifles, too. But in reality, there are still "significantly fewer than half a dozen" of them left. And there won't be any more, because manufacturing barrels capable of firing at 40+ km requires machine tools that aren't made in either Russia (they don't do much in this regard here) or China. And mattresses, Japanese cars, and Euro-gays are unlikely to sell them now, even through various proxy countries...
    2. ZovSailor
      ZovSailor
      +2
      25 August 2026 06: 21
      Outright lies.
      I can confirm, as a personal witness, 2, which means there are actually an order of magnitude more of them in the units, something like that.
      And in Bandera, among the gypsies and logs, there are about 15 fushki and mixtures hidden.
      1. RakitinAxS
        RakitinAxS
        +1
        25 August 2026 08: 04
        So why didn't those elusive Su-57s "play a crucial role in the destruction of the F-16"? Or are they just as afraid to fly within 50 km of the LBS as their cheaper Soviet-era counterparts, like the Su-30/35?
  2. twice-born
    twice-born
    +2
    25 August 2026 00: 09
    The enemy has already counted 57 of us, as many as 50-60?! Well, great if that's true! But the truth is, I don't really believe it. But I readily believe 36-40!
  3. The comment was deleted.
  4. bda lng
    bda lng
    + 10
    25 August 2026 06: 49
    So we never found out what "critical role" the SU-57s played in the attacks on Odessa...
  5. Valera75
    Valera75
    +5
    25 August 2026 08: 22
    The crucial role of Su-57 fighters in the strikes on Odessa has been determined.

    The most important? I'm not an expert on these things, but I'd like to know what the Su-57's important role was in the strikes on ports that were hit with drones and missiles, both the ports and those trying to load and unload at these ports.

    Two fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces played a key role in the strikes on the Ukrainian port city of Odessa on August 23, as the expansion of the aircraft fleet allowed them to participate in operations on all front lines.

    I couldn't find anything about an important role here.
    What was important in the article was this:

    The publication notes that attacks on port facilities play a key role in limiting NATO members' ability to deliver weapons to Ukraine and create additional strain on the economy of Ukraine and its supporters in the Western world.

    Good, although I think it's a bit late
  6. Sergey Latyshev
    Sergey Latyshev
    +6
    25 August 2026 09: 25
    The key role of the SU57 is so classified that even the text does not mention it.
    One can only guess that the SU-57s fly up to almost point-blank range and guide the UAVs and missiles...
  7. Glagol1
    Glagol1
    +1
    25 August 2026 11: 10
    In 2022, there were six. In 2022, six more were made, the same number in 2023. In 2024, ten, in 2025, twelve. One crashed near Moscow, another was either shot down or crashed on its own, in the SVO zone. That brings the total to 38 in total.
    The state contract is for 76 units until the end of 2027. Definitely a miss. If they make 24 by 2026-2027, that'll be 62. But there's some good news: simpler dryers are being produced faster.
  8. Victor19
    Victor19
    +1
    25 August 2026 13: 31
    the cost of the Su-30SM, despite similar dimensions and the use of the same type of engine.
    It seems they finished the second stage engine for the 57th.
  9. AC130 Gunship
    AC130 Gunship
    -1
    25 August 2026 16: 25
    Quote: ZovSailor
    Outright lies.
    I can confirm, as a personal witness, 2, which means there are actually an order of magnitude more of them in the units, something like that.
    And in Bandera, among the gypsies and logs, there are about 15 fushki and mixtures hidden.

    You have a very interesting calculation method. It turns out that what you saw with your own eyes needs to be multiplied several times.
    Did you know that the Soviet Navy once repainted the tail numbers on Yak-38s right at sea in their hangars so that NATO intelligence would count more of them on deck?
  10. AC130 Gunship
    AC130 Gunship
    0
    25 August 2026 16: 29
    I understand that if the operator itself saw a significant difference in the use of 57 compared to 35 or 30, they would start producing more of them. And add to this the fact that it's also difficult to transport electronics in suitcases through Kazakhstan in large quantities. And right now, they're mainly used for missiles.
  11. AlOrg
    AlOrg
    -1
    26 August 2026 19: 17
    Yes, if Pogosyan hadn't screwed up the MiG-1.44 back then, Russia would have at least several hundred 5th-generation fighters fighting on its side right now. As it is, we have a tiny number of them in the testing phase.