Moscow, November 28 – In a significant development, the Russian fifth-generation fighter jet Su-57 has been equipped with mini-drones that it will carry on board, allowing the aircraft to control a group of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to a well-informed source. These mini-drones, designed for various purposes, will be carried by the Su-57 both externally and internally, and can be deployed in the air. The fighter jet is expected to launch multiple drones simultaneously and control this group of UAVs, the source revealed. The mini-drones include strike drones, reconnaissance aircraft, and electronic warfare drones. Specifically, when dozens of drones are released in a group by the Su-57, they will enable the fighter jets to penetrate the enemy’s air defense system by overwhelming its information channels and launching concentrated strikes against its systems, using both the drones themselves and the fighter jets’ own weapons, the source explained.
In April 2021, an industry source reported that the Su-57 was being modified to be capable of controlling a group of small unmanned aerial vehicles. At that time, the development of onboard equipment, specialized software, and a ground-based system for testing the interaction between the drones and the carrier fighter jet was underway. The Su-57, a fifth-generation multi-role fighter jet, incorporates stealth technology and advanced electronics. It has the ability to carry weapons internally in its fuselage compartments and can achieve supersonic cruising speeds while maneuvering with high g-forces. Serial deliveries of these aircraft began in 2022. Under the current arms procurement program until 2027, the Russian Aerospace Forces are expected to receive 76 Su-57 fighter jets.
