12:57 28-11-2025

Report: Su-57 Shows Unique Edge Over F-22 and F-35

Military Watch Magazine reports the Su-57 has a unique combat edge thanks to real frontline testing, while F-22 and F-35 lack integrated air-to-ground capabilities.

The American outlet Military Watch Magazine reported that the recent international air show in Dubai highlighted a unique advantage of the Russian Su-57 fighter over the U.S. F-22 and F-35.

According to the publication, Sergei Bogdan, head of the flight division at Sukhoi, noted that Russian engineers are continuously upgrading the capabilities of the fifth-generation Su-57. He explained that this progress is made possible through regular combat testing of the aircraft in the zone of the Ukrainian conflict.

The magazine writes that Su-57 developers receive direct feedback from frontline operations, allowing them to quickly identify and eliminate shortcomings. In contrast, the authors point out that the F-22 and F-35 have also seen combat, but only against significantly weaker adversaries. Moreover, they observe that the American jets have not been equipped with integrated air-to-ground missiles and have not carried out more complex strike missions.

The publication states that this combat experience gives the Su-57 a unique advantage within its generation. It adds that the F-35 is expected to begin integrating such missiles only after the Block 4 upgrades are implemented in the early 2030s.

Earlier, U.S. sources acknowledged that the Russian Su-57 is the most heavily armed fighter in its class, and its effectiveness has been demonstrated repeatedly in combat sorties.