The Russian stealth fighter Su-57 has been photographed with an unusual weapons configuration, fueling speculation that the aircraft is being used in air defense missions against kamikaze drones and cruise missiles launched by Ukraine.
The images show the aircraft equipped with R-73/R-74 air-to-air missiles mounted externally under the wings and a still-unidentified targeting pod, a configuration considered unusual for a fighter designed to carry weapons in internal bays.
Experts believe this combination may have been developed to intercept low-altitude, low-signature targets, such as long-range drones and cruise missiles, which have been appearing more frequently over Russian territory.
The Su-57 has advantages for this type of mission thanks to its N036 AESA radar, 101KS electro-optical system, and infrared sensors capable of detecting threats that are difficult to locate. The possible adoption of a new designation pod also raises the hypothesis of improvements aimed specifically at air defense missions.
Although the number of Su-57s in service remains limited, the fighter has already been used in the war since at least 2022, mainly to launch long-range missiles without entering Ukrainian airspace. The aircraft can also employ long-range air-to-air missiles, as well as short-range weapons and its internal 30 mm cannon, although the latter is considered a less efficient option against drones due to the difficulty of engagement.
The possible new role of the Su-57 comes amid an increase in Ukrainian attacks against refineries, weapons factories, military bases, and even areas near Moscow. With ground-based air defenses under heavy pressure, Russia has begun reinforcing the protection of strategic targets using a combination of S-400 systems, Pantsir batteries, attack helicopters, and possibly its most modern fighters to expand defense against long-range aerial threats.
Source: The War Zone | Photos: Telegram @milinfolive | @uac_ru | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
+ Mark Zuckerberg appears with a US$2 million Rolex and reveals a side few people knew about
+ Airbus prepares Tiger MkIII helicopter modernization for high-intensity warfare
