Russia arms Su-57 fighter with hypersonic weapon
Russia’s Su-57 Felon stealth fighter has been armed with hypersonic weapons, according to a senior military official.
Speaking to the state-owned Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, Lieutenant General Alexander Maksimtsev, Chief of the Main Staff and First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, said the fifth-generation Su-57 is now equipped with “modern aviation strike systems and hypersonic weapons.”
“In accordance with the state defense order, the Aerospace Forces annually receive advanced and modernized weapon systems. The pace of deliveries of fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft is increasing, along with modern aviation strike systems and hypersonic weapons,” Maksimtsev said in the interview.
Maksimtsev did not specify which hypersonic weapon had been integrated into the aircraft. However, his comments renew speculation over long-standing claims that Russia is developing and testing air-launched hypersonic missiles compatible with the Su-57’s internal weapons bays.
Russian defense industry sources have previously stated that a new hypersonic air-to-ground missile has been under development specifically for internal carriage by the Su-57. In February 2023, Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported that military-industrial enterprises had created a prototype of a “small-sized air-to-surface hypersonic missile” for the Su-57 platform.
This follows earlier reports dating back to December 2018, in which sources close to the defense establishment suggested the Su-57 could eventually carry weapons with similar characteristics to the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (“Dagger”) air-launched ballistic missile. The Kinzhal, derived from the ground-launched Iskander system, has been deployed aboard modified MiG-31K interceptors and boasts a reported range of up to 2,000 kilometers at speeds exceeding Mach 10.
While there is no official confirmation that the Kinzhal itself has been certified for use on the Su-57, previous statements from retired Russian Air Force Major General Vladimir Popov suggested such integration was technically feasible. According to Popov, the Su-57 could potentially act as a launch platform for the Kinzhal, although the fighter would require structural modifications to handle the missile’s weight and dimensions.
The Su-57, developed by Sukhoi and manufactured by United Aircraft Corporation, is Russia’s answer to U.S. fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35. Despite years of delays and limited production, the Kremlin has continued to promote the aircraft as the cornerstone of its future tactical airpower.
If fully operational and armed with credible hypersonic systems, the Su-57 could mark a rare convergence of stealth and hypersonic strike capabilities—traits that few air forces globally have successfully integrated into a single platform.
However, Western defense experts remain cautious, pointing to Russia’s limited Su-57 fleet, delays in serial production, and questions over engine performance and sensor maturity. The aircraft has reportedly been used in limited roles during combat operations over Ukraine, but its presence has been minimal.
