Ukrainian forces have reportedly struck a Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet at an air base inside Russia, marking the first time this latest-generation aircraft has been hit, according to Kyiv’s GUR defense intelligence agency. The GUR shared satellite images showing the strike, although they did not specify how the Su-57 was hit or which unit of the Ukrainian military was responsible.
A well-known Russian military blogger known as Fighterbomber corroborated the report, stating that the Su-57 had been struck by a drone. The GUR indicated that the aircraft was parked at the Akhtubinsk airfield, which is located 366 miles away from the front lines in Ukraine where Ukrainian and Russian forces are in conflict. The images provided by the GUR show the Su-57 standing intact on June 7, but with craters and fire damage near it on June 8.
Since February 2022, Ukraine has been engaged in a full-scale conflict with Russian invasion forces. Both sides have been conducting strikes deep into enemy territory using missiles and drones. Despite not having the same level of missile capabilities as Russia, Ukraine has focused on developing long-range drones to target strategic locations inside its neighbor’s territory.
According to Fighterbomber, the Su-57 was hit by shrapnel and the extent of the damage is currently being assessed to determine if the aircraft can be repaired. If the plane is deemed beyond repair, it would mark the first combat loss of a Su-57. Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti’s military correspondent Alexander Kharchenko made a cryptic statement on the lack of hangars to protect military aircraft, hinting at the vulnerability of such assets.
The Su-57, touted as Russia’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft to compete with the U.S. equivalent, has faced development delays and a crash in 2019. Despite these setbacks, serial production of the aircraft reportedly began in 2022. The reported strike on the Su-57 by Ukrainian forces highlights the ongoing conflict between the two nations and the evolving nature of modern warfare involving advanced aircraft and drone technology.
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