Escalation Alert: Su-57 Replacing Su-34 in Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, both sides have suffered significant losses, including human casualties and military equipment. The Ukrainian Air Force reported on March 4 that a Su-34 Fullback fighter bomber had been shot down, adding to more than a dozen Fullback bombers allegedly brought down by Ukraine in just over two weeks. The continued Ukrainian strikes have prompted military observers to suggest that Russia needs to reconsider its battlefield tactics. While the Kremlin has not confirmed the number of Su-34s lost recently, it is believed to be unusually high. With the downing of numerous Su-34s raising concerns about the aircraft’s aging, speculation has arisen about the possibility of the Su-57 replacing it. Russia’s Su-57, a fifth-generation fighter jet, is being hailed as Moscow’s pride and joy in aerial combat technology. This makes us question: will the Su-57 indeed replace the now-aging Su-34?