Russia Receives Second Batch of Su-57 Fighters in 2026

The Russian Aerospace Forces have received two new Su-57 fighter jets as part of the second 2026 batch, the Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) press service reports.

The aircraft were handed over at the airfield of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Yuri Gagarin (KnAAZ).

Before being handed over, the fighters underwent tests to confirm their claimed specifications.

The delivery of the second batch at the end of the year is unusual for Russia’s aircraft industry. The delay may have been caused by a fire that broke out in April 2026 at the KnAAZ facility, which is owned by JSC Sukhoi Company.

The fire engulfed a workshop specializing in the production of polymer matrix composite (PMC) components for the Su-57.

The workshop produced around 300 types of components, about 100 of which were large-sized. These included aileron, air intake, flaperon, and floor panels, as well as outer wing panel tips.

Despite this, production of this type of fighter remains relatively slow. In September 2025, Militarnyi reported that Russia had received only 16 fighters for combat units since 2019.

Including the batch delivered in February 2026, the total increased to 18 aircraft. This production rate remains very slow.

Based on the tail numbers, the Russian Aerospace Forces operate at least 16 fighters of this type. According to available information, they are stationed at the Akhtubinsk, Znamensk, and Aksyonovo airfields.

Thus, the aircraft can be divided into two categories. The first includes Su-57s assigned to the 929th State Flight Test Center in Akhtubinsk. These are aircraft with the following tail numbers: ‘01’ Blue, 81774, ‘02’ Red, and ‘11’ Red.

The second category includes aircraft spotted at airfields alongside operational combat aircraft — in Znamensk and Aksyonovo. A total of 13 Su-57s with the following tail numbers have been identified there.