Russian Su-57: How stealth jet compares to Ukraine's incoming F-16s (2024)

Ukraine is eagerly awaiting the first shipments of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets from its Western allies, desperately needed hardware that Kyiv hopes will help it counter Russia's air advantage after more than two years of grueling war.

After months of diplomatic pressure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finally secured the long-awaited aircraft from NATO allies Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium, all of whom donated their fleets to the Ukrainian Air Force. Since early April, the U.S. and its allies have been training Ukrainian pilots on the American-made jets, which are expected to be delivered within weeks. Zelensky has said he needs 120 to 130 of the warplanes to achieve "parity" with Moscow.

Ukraine hopes those F-16s will help its military match the aerial capabilities of Russia's fleet of Su-57 jets, which have been deployed since the early days of the conflict.

But while the F-16 brings proven reliability and versatility to Ukraine's defense, the Su-57's advanced stealth capabilities present a formidable challenge—though production numbers have been low and the program has suffered multiple setbacks, meaning it is uncertain that it operates in high-threat areas in Ukraine.

Su-57: Stealth and Advanced Technology

Russia's fifth-generation fighter boasts advanced stealth technology, 3D thrust vectoring engines and a diverse array of weaponry.

According to Russian military documents, the Su-57 is capable of flying at "more than twice the speed of sound," at altitudes of nearly 60,000 feet and a range of more than 1,800 miles.

Armament includes radar-guided or infrared-homing ("heat-seeking") air-to-air missiles, unguided air-to-ground rockets, conventional bombs, cluster bombs and a gun firing 30-mm exploding shells.

The twin-engine stealth fighter, developed by Russian defense giant Sukhoi in the early 2000s, has roots that trace back to the Cold War era. During that period, the Soviets identified the need for a next-generation fighter to succeed their Su-27 and MiG-29 fleets in frontline tactical operations.

But the Su-57 faced production delays and performance issues, particularly with its engines and stealth features. Some military aviation experts argue that the warplane's visible round engine nozzles increase its ability to be detected by radar, undermining its stealth capabilities.

Despite those shortcomings, the Su-57, or "Felon," has some advantages over the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Defense-specialized magazine National Interest reports that the fifth-generation Felon can synchronize with ground radars, giving it a first-launch advantage over the fourth-generation model.

F-16: Versatility and Maneuverability

The F-16 Fighting Falcon has a long track record of combat success. Known for its versatility and maneuverability, it has been a staple in numerous air forces since the late 1970s.

Initially designed as a lightweight air superiority day fighter, the jet has evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. The F-16's flexibility, combined with a wide array of upgrades over the years, including advanced radar, avionics and weapon systems, makes it a robust fighter for the demands of modern aerial combat.

The F-16 can fly at speeds over Mach 2 (about 1,500 mph) and operate at altitudes up to 50,000 feet, slightly lower than the Su-57. It has a combat radius of approximately 340 miles with internal fuel and a ferry range exceeding 2,000 miles with external tanks.

The American jets also include upgraded radar systems like the AN/APG-66, which can track targets both in the air and on the ground over a range of more than 60 miles. They can carry a larger and more diverse array of weapons than either the Soviet MiG-29 or the Su-57, including missiles, bombs, and anti-radar weapons.

The fighters will replace Ukraine's strained and thinning fleet of MiG-29s, Su-24s and Su-25s — jets that came of age at the height of the Cold War and whose capabilities are now well known to the Russians.

However, a report by the U.S. General Accounting Office last year ranked the F-16 as one of the most difficult Air Force planes to maintain. That fact, according to Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine Colonel and senior adviser with the Center for Strategic & International Studies Security Program, may be as challenging for the Ukrainians as actually flying the aircraft.

"For the F-16s to be effective, Ukraine needs to establish and maintain extensive support and logistics infrastructure," Cancian told Newsweek. "This includes training pilots, which takes about nine months, and setting up systems for maintenance, refueling, and ammunition supply."

"It will not be an immediate game-changer," he added.

Update, 5/21/24, 4:15 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.