**Russia‘s Su-57 Fighter Jet Embarrassment at Airshow China**
The Russian military was left red-faced after the country’s prized Su-57 stealth fighter jet made a poor impression at the Airshow China 2024 exhibition in Zhuhai. The aircraft, touted as one of Russia’s most modern fighter jets, failed to live up to expectations.
**Aerobatic Display Falls Flat**
The Su-57 performed an impressive aerobatic display during a demonstration flight at the air show. However, the excitement was short-lived. Close-up photos taken by members of the public revealed poor build quality and stealth capabilities that were far from convincing.
**Social Media Mockery**
Images of bolts and filler between panels on the parked Su-57 sparked mockery on social media. These issues would render the plane’s fuselage visible to radar systems, making it vulnerable in combat.
**Experts Question the Su-57’s Capabilities**
Several experts questioned the Su-57’s capabilities as a combat aircraft. Martin J. Dougherty, a weapons expert and author, noted that Russia has been unwilling to use the Su-57 in its purported high-capability role. Instead, the country has relied on standoff missiles from outside enemy range.
**Cut Corners Taken**
Peter Layton, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, suggested that the development team may have cut corners to present a working aircraft to their superiors. Build quality issues can be addressed later or blamed on someone else once the pressure is off.
**Was it Just a Test Plane?**
Some experts argued that the Su-57 shown at Airshow China was likely a test plane, built with poorer quality and without essential electronics and guidance systems. This would explain its impressive aerodynamic performance but lack of combat value.
The incident raises questions about Russia’s military capabilities and willingness to invest in effective technology. The Kyiv Independent spoke with experts who questioned the Su-57’s combat worthiness and suggested that it may have been a test plane, designed to impress rather than perform in actual combat.