Su-57 in the assessment of American experts and Russian media.
American commentators argue that the Su-57 currently stands out for its performance at air shows but lacks a convincing combat history, while Russian media claims the aircraft has seen combat in Ukraine, but there is no independent evidence to confirm this.
Military analyses from the US suggest that Russia's Su-57 stealth fighter is currently best known for its aerobatic displays at air shows, while its combat history and actual effectiveness lack verifiable data. Russian media claims the Su-57 has participated in combat operations in Ukraine, but these claims have yet to be substantiated by independent photographic evidence.
Peter Suciu's assessment of the role of the Su-57
Peter Suciu, a commentator for the National Interest (NI) magazine in the US, believes that Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet is best suited for air shows. According to the article cited, the Su-57 was once hailed as the best aircraft for air shows, but this assessment was limited to the performance aspect.
In his review, Peter Suciu highlighted the contrast between the eye-catching image of the Su-57 in the sky and its little-tested military performance. He argued that what the public often sees are impressive aerobatic displays and maneuvers, rather than detailed data on its actual combat effectiveness.
Performed at Aero India and Dubai but lacked major orders.
This analyst acknowledges that the Su-57 has made a strong impression at international events. The aircraft made a prominent appearance last March at the Aero India show, and once again attracted attention at the Dubai Airshow 2025 in the United Arab Emirates.
According to Peter Suciu, these performances generate a huge media impact. Images of the Su-57 performing aerobatics and maneuvering at high speeds often attract the attention of viewers and spread rapidly across social media platforms.
Reasons why India is not yet close to an agreement to buy Su-57s.
Commenting on reports in the Indian media, Peter Suciu stated that New Delhi is not yet closer to an agreement with Moscow on the purchase of Su-57s. He cited the reason mentioned in the reports as India prioritizing its domestic aircraft development and production program.
According to this approach, the Su-57's visual success at airshows is not enough to convince potential customers like India to sign large contracts. The article suggests that the gap between performance and purchase decisions remains significant.
The combat history is considered rather unimpressive.
Peter Suciu commented that the Su-57 is a very good demonstration aircraft, but its combat history is considered unimpressive. From this, he concluded that the Su-57 is not the best aircraft in the world for any purpose other than air show.
This line of reasoning places a strong emphasis on proven combat performance as a key criterion for evaluating weapons. In this context, the lack of detailed information and independent data on the Su-57's combat operations has led American commentators to remain skeptical.
19FortyFive's review of 'magic weapons'
Prior to Peter Suciu, Jack Buckby, a commentator for 19FortyFive magazine, also offered his perspective on the Su-57 within the broader context of many new Russian weapons. He noted that many of Russia's 'wonder weapons,' including the Su-57, are experiencing problems with the gap between design plans and practical implementation.
This observation highlights the common challenge of high-tech weapons programs: from ambitious goals on paper and in the design phase to achieving consistent effectiveness in combat conditions, it is a long and complex process. Within that analytical framework, the Su-57 is categorized as a system that has not fully demonstrated its capabilities beyond what has been shown.
Perspectives from the Russian media and their level of accuracy.
Contrary to the cautious assessments from American commentators, the Russian press presents a different picture. They emphasize that the Su-57 has seen combat in Ukraine, participating in both air-to-air missions, shooting down enemy fighters, and attacking ground targets with precision-guided missiles.
However, the source cited also noted that these figures are still those released by Russia as propaganda. As of the time of this article, no actual photographic evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims.
Clearly distinguishing between field data and wartime propaganda is considered a key factor when assessing the capabilities of any weapon system, including the Su-57.
A comprehensive assessment of the Su-57's current location.
From the cited analyses, it appears that American commentators such as Peter Suciu and Jack Buckby approach the Su-57 with a focus on verified data. While acknowledging the aircraft's impressive performance capabilities, they argue that its combat history is still unclear and that the original design goals have not been fully realized.
Conversely, Russian media have emphasized the role of the Su-57 in the Ukrainian conflict, but these same articles note that these claims have not been independently verified. In this context, assessments of the Su-57 are currently based primarily on performances, official statements, and expert commentary, rather than a comprehensive set of battlefield data.
This perspective suggests that the Su-57 is at a stage where the gap between design potential, performance, and proven combat capability remains central to any objective, technical military analysis.
