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| Russian Sukhoi Su-57 Felon 5th Generation Stealth Fighter (Image Source: United Aircraft Corporation) |
Moscow: At the moment, the only customer of the Russian Sukhoi Su-57 Felon is the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Serial production is also not going at the expected pace. BulgarianMilitary.com wrote that one of the reasons for the delayed serial production was the evaluation of the air aces of the 23rd aviation regiment.
Russia currently has six mass-produced fighters. There are ten more units which are the prototype versions of the aircraft. Although some media claim that the Su-57 did not take part in the hostilities in Ukraine, Russia officially confirmed that the “Criminal” did. In August, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sergei Shoigu, said on Rossiya-1 TV that “the Su-57 performed brilliantly in Ukraine.” Mr. Shoigu also confirmed that prototype versions of the Su-57 have taken part in combat operations in Syria.
Thus, with only six serially produced aircraft and insignificant military experience, Moscow is making another desperate attempt to attract financing by selling the Su-57. One of the potential customers is Vietnam. It is there that the Su-57 Felon is flying to participate in the upcoming defense and security exhibition, which will be held in Hanoi between December 8 and 10.
Moscow needs money
Moscow needs money for the Su-57 project. Currently, Russia is self-financing the production of its fighter, but Rostec and UAC recently announced an increase in production capacity at the Komsomolsk on Amur plant. Most likely, along with the capabilities of the Su-57, Russia will promote to the Vietnamese government the new production facilities, with the hope that they will be loaded to maximum capacity.
Vietnam needs a fifth-generation fighter. Hanoi is in the process of retooling its air force. Vietnamese media at the beginning of the year, however, liked Rostec’s newest prototype – the Su-75 Checkmate. However, there are no indications that this fighter will soon enter serial production. It is still not clear the first flight of the Su-75, after Moscow changed the date at least three times – from 2023, in 2024-2025, and even to 2026. Thus, Moscow made the decision that the Su-57 would fly to Hanoi.
More weapons
The aircraft will be on display at the Russian Ordnance Systems stand at the show. 400 Russian products will be presented there, including two more combat aircraft from Sukhoi – Su-30 SME and Su-35 Flanker E. The T-14 Armata will not be presented from the Russian land-based weaponry. This should not surprise us either, as Russia has more problems with the serial production of the T-14 than with problems with the production of the Su-57. However, two versions of the T-90 tank will be on display.
Visitors are also expected to see a Ka-52 reconnaissance-strike helicopter, a Mi-171Sh military transport helicopter, and a Ka-28 naval anti-submarine warfare [ASV] helicopter. Russia will also present anti-aircraft missile systems “Buk” and “Tor”, self-propelled anti-aircraft missile systems “Pantsir-S1”, and air defense systems “Vrba” and “Igla-S”, suitable for building air defense. at different levels.
In recent years, Moscow and Hanoi have been in the process of building a stable relationship, not only in the field of defense and security.
