On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Su-27’s entry into service, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) provided details on some of the main combat aircraft production programs for the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). The focus of attention, through official statements, was first centered on the manufacture of the initial prototypes of the new Su-75 Checkmate, while secondly, the corporation confirmed the serial production of the fifth-generation stealth fighter Sukhoi Su-57. The mention of this aircraft—the most modern currently in service and production—is not minor, as it clears up questions about this stage of the program while also raising new ones about UAC’s capacity to meet export requirements.
As of today, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aviation plant stands as one of the main facilities where the most capable and advanced fighters in service with the VKS are produced—namely, the Sukhoi Su-35S, the main combat aircraft employed in operations against Ukraine, and the fifth-generation Su-57.
Focusing on the latter, throughout the current year, there have been no officially recorded aircraft deliveries, unlike other models such as the Su-34 and Su-35, which were publicly reported by UAC through its various communication channels. The only report during the current year came from Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) sources, which indicated the possible delivery of a batch of two or more aircraft in April. However, this report was not confirmed by the corporation—a fact that draws attention when compared to announcements made in previous years.
In this regard, in the television documentary recently broadcast by the Russian channel Rossiya-1, E. Korshikov, Deputy General Director of KnAAPO—the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Plant—stated: “We are already in serial production of the fifth-generation aircraft, mainly for the Ministry of Defense. And we have already started the manufacture of prototypes of the light tactical aircraft (Su-75) based on the Su-57.”
In concrete numbers, and according to official information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, it holds a contract with UAC for a total of 76 production aircraft, signed in 2019 during the ARMY exhibition, setting the completion of deliveries for the end of 2027.
Since then, various reports from OSINT sources and experts have confirmed the delivery of ten (10) Su-57s in 2022, eleven (11) in 2023, while in 2024, the Russian defense ministry announced that it expected to receive a total of twenty-two (22), with the last recorded deliveries taking place in December of that year—this being the most recent batch confirmed by UAC.
It is not new that, in recent years, the Russian aerospace industry has had to overcome all kinds of sanctions, seeking alternatives to meet the state orders of the Russian Ministry of Defense, as well as those of other customers that have been added, such as Algeria and Iran. These countries are reportedly in the process of receiving their first Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-57 fighter aircraft in the case of the former, and Su-35S in the case of the latter.
However, the statement regarding the start of serial production of the Su-57 has not been matched in 2025 by the delivery of new aircraft—or at least by any announcement of deliveries to the VKS—as occurred in previous years. Meanwhile, other fifth-generation fighter models, such as the U.S. F-35 and the Chinese J-20—soon to be joined by the J-35—already have hundreds of units listed as delivered.
Lastly, facing this reality, although not officially acknowledged by UAC or Rostec, there have been reports of efforts and investments aimed at increasing fifth-generation aircraft production. This was reflected in the inauguration, in August 2024, of new facilities at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aviation plant, which include the opening of “…buildings for fuel system testing, as well as the completion of the first phase of construction of a hangar for testing onboard radio-electronic equipment (BREO), in order to scale up the serial production of aircraft,” according to an official statement.
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