In advanced military aviation, two stealth fighter jets stand out: the American F-35 Lightning II and the Russian Sukhoi Su-57. These two aircraft represent attempts by each country to engineer an advanced stealth fighter.

US F-35 Vs Russian Su-57

In advanced military aviation, two stealth fighter jets stand out: the American F-35 Lightning II and the Russian Sukhoi Su-57. These two aircraft represent attempts by each country to engineer an advanced stealth fighter. The F-35, a product of Lockheed Martin since 2006, has seen widespread service, with over 1,000 units already serving in multiple countries. Various branches of the US armed forces have plans to acquire more of these aircraft. The F-35 first saw combat when the Israeli Air Force deployed it in 2018.

The Su-57, manufactured by the United Aircraft Corporation, is a twin-engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft. It’s the result of the PAK FA program, initiated in 1999 as an alternative to the MFI Mikoyan Project. Despite some technical and structural issues that led to delays and a crash of the first production aircraft, the Su-57 finally entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in December 2020.

Both aircraft are leaders in their field, but they have differences in capability. The F-35 specializes in low radar cross-section operations, while the Su-57 embodies stealth and can fire at specific angles. The F-35 has seen widespread demand worldwide, while the Su-57 offers unmatched speed and offensive power.

F-35 Lightning II

The F-35 is expected to remain in active service up to 2070, with various United States armed forces planning to acquire over 2,400 F-35s through 2044. The F-35A, with its conventional takeoff and landing capability, empowers the U.S. Air Force and its allies to command the skies at any time and place. This agile, versatile, and high-performance multirole fighter, capable of pulling 9g, seamlessly blends stealth, sensor fusion, and an unprecedented level of situational awareness.

F-35A equipped with the Electro-Optical Targeting System, an internally mounted system that provides extended range detection and precision against ground targets, plus long-range detection of air-to-air threats. Several international militaries operate the F-35, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The F-35 uses the latest in stealth technology, avionics, and weaponry, making it the most survivable and lethal fighter jet ever built.

Russian Su-57

Russia’s Su-57 was initially conceptualized during the Cold War when the USSR first envisioned a next-generation fighter jet. The resulting I-90 program was designed to create a successor to the MiG-29 and Su-27 platforms. The Sukhoi Su-57 (designated by the NATO as Felon), was the first Russian airframe to feature stealth technology. Constructed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau within United Aircraft, the airframe represented a huge technological leap for Russia.

The Kremlin boasted that the Su-57 was capable of engaging and destroying a wide array of land, airborne and maritime targets.

Regardless of the Sukhoi’s true capabilities, too few of these airframes have been produced to seriously threaten the U.S. or its fleet of F-35 fighters.