The Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name: Felon) is a stealth, single-seat, twin-engine multirole fifth-generation jet fighter being developed since 2002 for air superiority and attack operations. The aircraft is the product of the PAK FA (Russian: Perspektivny Aviatsionny Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii, lit. ''prospective aeronautical complex of front-line air forces''), a fifth-generation fighter program of the Russian Air Force. Sukhoi's internal name for the aircraft is T-50. The Su-57 is the first aircraft in Russian military service to use stealth technology. Its maiden flight took place on January 29th, 2010, and it entered service on December 25th, 2020. It is the world's fourth operational fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft after the F-22, F-35, and J-20.

According to Sukhoi Company, the fighter is designed to have supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth, and advanced avionics to overcome the previous generation fighter aircraft as well as ground and naval defences.The Su-57 is intended to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian Air Force.

The prototypes and initial production batch are to be delivered with a highly upgraded Lyulka AL-31 variant, the AL-41F1, as an interim powerplant, while an advanced clean-sheet design engine, currently designated the Izdeliye 30, is in final stages of development, expected to be available after mid-2020s. The fighter is expected to have a service life of up to 35 years

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Russian Sukhoi Su-57E stealth fighter known as "Bandit" and depicted in the feature film Top Gun: Maverick. Pre-order! Ship Date: May 2025.

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-3/4-inches
Length: 11-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Bandit" - In the feature film, Top Gun: Maverick, the enemy Rogue Nation has built a new top of the line fighter unlike anything the US Navy has ever seen. The US Navy tells CAPT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell that the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets they will be flying for the mission are no match for this new fighter. The enemy nation has presumably many of these fighters amongst other aircraft, such as older F-14A Tomcats and Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters.

These fighters are not seen (aside from digital training aids) until the end of the movie, when Maverick and LT Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw steal one of the F-14A Tomcats the Rogue Nation still had intact after both of their airfield runways were bombed by Tomahawk missiles. After unscheduled takeoff and lack of verbal communication via radio, a pair of 5th gen fighters investigate the odd lone F-14A traveling away from the base on an uncharted flight path. During their check, the enemy fighters initially do not know Maverick and Rooster are the air flight crew aboard the F-14A, as the aircraft appeared to be one of their own: it had Rogue Nation paint scheme markings, took off from one of their own bases, and presumably had a recognizable "friendly" aircraft identification signature on their radar. The facade, however, is blown when Maverick quickly realizes that he is failing miserably at pretending to be an enemy pilot, as neither he nor Rooster, could understand the hand signals the other enemy pilot was using to communicate with him. Due to this, Maverick decides to 'get the drop on them' and surprise attack the enemy by immediately shooting down one of their 5th gen fighters causing the remaining fighter (and a third unseen fighter) to engaged the F-14A. All three of these enemy fighters were eventually shot down (two by Maverick and one by LT Jake "Hangman" Seresin).