By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: The most advanced Russian fighter jet, the Su-57E, made its first appearance at the Dubai Airshow 2025, immediately drawing significant public attention.

Displayed alongside American aircraft, its presence sparked widespread interest and invited inevitable comparisons with established fifth-generation platforms from the United States.

Aviation exhibitions and air shows traditionally attract large crowds eager to witness demonstration flights by the world’s most advanced aircraft. Lockheed Martin, with its fifth-generation F-22 and F-35 fighters, has long been a regular participant at the Dubai Airshow.

At the 19th edition of the event in 2025, however, these aircraft encountered a notable new competitor in the form of the Russian Su-57E multirole fighter.

When assessing modern combat aircraft, analysts focus on overall combat effectiveness, which is determined by a combination of factors rather than a single standout feature.

These include flight performance, stealth characteristics, onboard systems, the composition and quantity of weapons carried, operational efficiency, and maintenance requirements.

A truly effective aircraft is therefore one in which all these elements are well balanced, rather than excelling in one or two areas at the expense of others.

Historically, the F-35 was developed to complement the US Air Force’s primary air superiority platform, the F-22, and has been optimised primarily for anti-ground and anti-sea missions.

The Su-57, by contrast, was conceived from the outset as a multirole stealth fighter, designed, produced, and employed with an emphasis on balanced performance across air combat, strike missions, and operational flexibility.

This design philosophy is reflected in three core characteristics of the Su-57E: low observability, the ability to sustain supersonic cruise speeds, and superiority in close-range and beyond-visual-range combat situations.

The aircraft incorporates a comprehensive suite of radar signature reduction measures, delivering a level of low observability comparable to leading foreign designs.

This is achieved through specialised airframe shaping, the internal placement of weapons, protection of antenna compartments, dedicated operating modes for onboard electronic systems, and the extensive use of radar-absorbing materials and coatings.

The radar-absorbing materials used on the Su-57E exhibit performance parameters similar to those found on comparable foreign aircraft, while offering advantages in ease of maintenance and suitability across a wide range of operational environments. These characteristics are particularly relevant for sustained, high-tempo operations.

Beyond stealth, the Su-57E builds on the renowned handling qualities traditionally associated with Sukhoi aircraft at subsonic speeds. Its advanced aerodynamics and powerful engines also deliver high performance at supersonic speeds, including sustained maneuverability.

Notably, the Su-57E is the only fifth-generation fighter equipped with a low-observable, adjustable supersonic air intake. This design provides a high total pressure recovery ratio and reduced drag at speeds exceeding Mach 1.6, enhancing acceleration, climb rate, and service ceiling.

The combination of aerodynamic design and powerplant performance enables true supersonic cruise capability. Operating at Mach 1.4 to 1.6 and altitudes of 14 to 16 kilometres, the aircraft can deploy missiles under more favourable conditions while achieving greater range and combat radius in this flight mode. In this regard, the Su-57E compares favourably not only with the F-35A but also with the F-22.

Like all modern fifth-generation fighters, the Su-57E integrates advanced electronic systems for surveillance, targeting, and self-defence. In addition, it is capable of operating within a unified tactical situational awareness network alongside earlier-generation Russian aircraft, achieved through adaptable onboard communications systems that extend interoperability across mixed fleets.

One of the most distinctive features of the Su-57E is the flexibility of its internal weapons bays. These compartments can be configured to carry different combinations of munitions and auxiliary fuel tanks, allowing mission-specific customisation.

The aircraft is also capable of launching a long-range cruise missile from its internal bays, a capability that is unique on the current global arms market.

The Su-57E has already generated strong reactions at international air shows in China and India, where its aerobatic displays and maneuverability have left lasting impressions on spectators. At the same time, the platform continues to evolve.

Ongoing upgrades include the introduction of new electronic systems, testing of engines with enhanced performance, and the integration of more advanced and intelligent air-to-air weapons, underscoring the aircraft’s continued development trajectory.