Su-57 Fighter Seen With Anti-Drone Weapons Setup
The War Zone says a Russian Su-57 was seen with unusual weapons, possibly adapted to intercept Ukrainian drones and cruise missiles.
Observers at The War Zone drew attention to footage shared on social media showing a Russian Su-57 fighter with an unusual weapons configuration. According to the authors, the setup suggests that the aircraft has been adapted to intercept Ukrainian drones and cruise missiles.
The publication noted that two missiles from the R-73 or R-74 series can be seen under the fighter’s wings. An unidentified external pod is also mounted under the left engine nacelle, though its purpose has not been disclosed.
The War Zone believes this configuration may be designed specifically for engaging small aerial targets, including kamikaze drones. For the Su-57, the arrangement looks unusual: the aircraft is built with internal weapons bays, and carrying short-range missiles on external hardpoints is not considered its standard operating profile.
The authors also pointed out that the Su-57 is equipped with powerful active electronically scanned array radars and electro-optical systems. These capabilities allow the fighter to detect low-signature targets at significant distances.
At the same time, the publication noted that using advanced fighter jets against drones is not a uniquely Russian practice. The United States, Israel and Britain use a similar approach with their F-35 aircraft.