Russia’s Su-57 conducts 40+ strikes on Ukrainian targets
Russia’s advanced Su-57 Felon aircraft have conducted more than 40 strikes against Ukraine, according to sources within Ukraine’s Air Force.
These stealth fighters have become a more frequent tool in Russia’s aerial campaign, with increased missile strikes recorded since late February 2024.
Although Russia had previously deployed the Su-57 sporadically, the intensity and frequency of its use have grown significantly. In January, the UK Ministry of Defense reported that Su-57s had been used in Ukraine since at least June 2022, but their early deployment was limited. Now, these jets are playing a more active role, often launching strikes from Russian airspace over Kursk and Bryansk, as well as from occupied Luhansk.
The Su-57s are also equipped with the Kh-58USHK anti-radiation missile, capable of targeting radar systems from distances of up to 150 miles, depending on launch conditions.
The Kh-69 is one of Russia’s latest missile systems, first publicly revealed in August 2022 at the Army-2022 military forum. Russia also showcased the missile at the Dubai Airshow in November 2023, describing it as a “next-generation multifunctional, low-visibility, high-precision cruise missile.”
However, international defense analysts argue that the Kh-69 is a modified version of an older missile. Experts from The War Zone note that the Kh-69 likely evolved from the Kh-59MK2 missile, which first emerged in 2009 and shared similarities with its predecessor, the Soviet-era Kh-59MK.
