Russia Loses Su-57 After Engine Failure at Akhtubinsk

Ukraine's military intelligence confirmed that a Russian Su-57 stealth fighter exploded during engine startup on October 29 at the Akhtubinsk airfield in southwestern Russia. The incident occurred before the aircraft took off, involving one of Moscow's most advanced fifth-generation combat jets valued at approximately $150 million per unit.

Ukrainian authorities suspect poor-quality jet fuel as a primary cause of the catastrophic failure, noting that similar incidents may affect other Russian aircraft using comparable engines. The Su-57 is powered by AL-41F1 turbojet or turbofan engines and has seen limited production since 2019 following development challenges.

The explosion adds to recent technical failures involving Russian military aviation amid ongoing strikes on oil refineries, which have reportedly increased Moscow's reliance on imported fuel. While Russia promotes the Su-57 as a stealthy fifth-generation fighter comparable to Western models like the F-35 and F-22, analysts note that production has remained slow due to wartime demands.