TechRussia's Su-57 launches stealth missiles in Ukraine, escalating conflict

Russia's Su‑57 launches stealth missiles in Ukraine, escalating conflict

The Russian Su-57 is often heralded by Kremlin propaganda as a superweapon, though Western experts disagree. Despite scepticism, it appears the Russians have started deploying their most advanced aircraft for operations in Ukraine.

Launching Su-57
Launching Su-57
Images source: © Weapon Maven

Illya Yevlash, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Forces, highlighted the deployment of Russian forces' Su-57. He reported that Russia employs the Su-57 in missile strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure. These aircraft execute their attacks from a considerable distance, steering clear of the frontline.

Evlash pointed out that the Su-57 was notably utilized in assaults on April 11 and 26, primarily serving as a platform for launching Kh-69 missiles. The Kh-69, an evolution of the Kh-59 missile showcased in 1991, has acquired stealth capabilities, reducing its detectability significantly.

Advancements in aerial warfare technology

The Kh-69 missile (Kh-59MK2), weighing approximately 1,764 pounds with a warhead mass of 661 pounds, boasts a substantial operational range of around 249 miles. Its stealth features enhance its ability to evade detection, presenting challenges in intercepting these missiles en route to their targets.

See also: Is it NATO or Russian equipment?

An additional strategic advantage of the missile is its capacity to navigate at extremely low altitudes—about 66-98 feet—rendering it virtually invisible to radar over long distances. Its operational characteristics are often likened to the British Storm Shadow missiles.

Russian Su-57 planes
Russian Su-57 planes© Mil.in.ua
Featuring a rectangular cross-section, the Kh-69 comes equipped with a pair of foldable wings and four tail fins arranged in an X shape. It relies on satellite navigation for flight, activating an electro-optical sensor to home in on the target just before impact.

The toll on Russian aviation

Russia's integration of this new missile with the Su-57 may be an attempt to counteract the severe losses experienced by its aviation in the spring of 2024. Russian forces reportedly lost several Su-34 aircraft within a brief timeframe—a claim by Ukrainian sources that mentions up to ten downed Sukhoi models, though this figure may be somewhat inflated.

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