A Third of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 Production Firms Freely Source Foreign Components

About one-third of Russian companies involved in producing Su-57 fighter jets have managed to avoid sanctions and continue to purchase foreign components without restrictions.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported on this.

The agency also published an interactive 3D model and details on 103 companies participating in the Su-57 production network on the War & Sanctions website.

“About one-third of these companies are still not under sanctions by any member of the sanctions coalition. This allows them to keep accessing foreign technology and components needed to develop Russia’s military aviation,” the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said.

Among the identified companies are:

• The St. Petersburg-based Krasny Oktyabr, which produces auxiliary power units (gas turbine power systems) for the Su-57;
• The National Institute of Aviation Technologies, involved in designing advanced cockpit glass for the aircraft;
• The Institute of Theoretical and Applied Electrodynamics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which develops and applies radar-absorbing coatings to aircraft parts;
• YASHZ Avia, a company that manufactures aircraft tires for Su-57 fighter jets.

This situation allows Russia to assemble Su-57 fighter jets not only for its own military but also for export, generating profit in the process.

In April, Russia announced new export contracts for the Su-57E fighter jet. At present, Algeria remains the only confirmed foreign operator of the Su-57E.

The Su-57 was developed by the Sukhoi company and is manufactured at an aircraft plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

Development of the aircraft began in the early 2000s, and its first flight took place on January 29, 2010.

At the end of 2020, Russia inducted its first Su-57 fighter into service.

Ukrainian forces are trying to destroy these aircraft while they are still at airfields.

In June 2024, Russia acknowledged that Ukrainian drones struck two of its newest Su-57 fighter jets at the Akhtubinsk airfield in the Astrakhan region.