Russia halts Su‑57 production as sanctions bite hard

"It’s clear that Russia’s military industry heavily depends on Western components, particularly in electronics," explains the Ukrainian analytical group Frontelligence Insight.

According to the report published by analysts, the sanctions imposed by the West have limited the supply of these critical pieces of equipment, which threatens the Su-57's production, as summarized by Frontelligence Insight.

Upon reviewing Russian documents, Ukrainian analysts identified several key challenges obstructing the production. Among these challenges, they mention an electronic device that reduces the amplitude or power of a signal without significantly distorting its shape, as well as power supplies. These components are part of the MPPU-50, a German device used for calibrating the Su-57's communication system.

Previously, Sukhoi (the manufacturer of the jets - editor's note) could legally import the MPPU-50 and its components. Now, the company is attempting to acquire them illegally from third parties. "Considering that Russian military production continued to expand in 2023 and 2024, it’s clear that they find ways to smuggle key components or purchase Chinese replacements to maintain production," the Frontelligence Insight report states directly.

However, illegally obtaining components is labor- and time-intensive, affecting production. Consequently, it has become unprofitable. Sukhoi is now focusing on the production of the Su-35, which, according to Ukrainian analysts, "has become more economical, which is also of great importance."

According to the document's authors, Russia has slightly more than 30 Su-57s in service, one-third of which are test versions that may lack some of the planned electronic devices. This is "a paltry force for an air arm that deploys around a thousand front-line fighters – and which has lost a hundred of them in action over Ukraine since February 2022," comment the report's authors.