Russian Su-57 Fighter Jet “Mocked” and “Criticized” by Chinese Social Media Users

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Russia’s most advanced fifth-generation fighter jet, the Su-57 “Felon,” arrived in China for the first time on Monday to participate in the Zhuhai Airshow in Guangdong Province, China.

This marks the inaugural appearance of the Sukhoi Su-57 at China’s largest airshow, which in recent years has been used by Beijing to showcase its advancements in military and aerospace capabilities.

The Su-57, which the Kremlin promotes as the “most advanced fifth-generation stealth fighter,” is scheduled to perform flight demonstrations, with an additional unit displayed as a static exhibit.

Moscow is seeking foreign buyers for its fifth-generation fighter, as Western sanctions have limited Russia’s capacity to produce the Su-57 in significant quantities.

Rather than being the star attraction at China’s premier airshow, the Russian fifth-generation fighter has faced substantial criticism and ridicule on Chinese social media platforms.

Images of the Su-57 at the Zhuhai Airshow have circulated widely on TikTok, where Chinese social media users quickly drew unfavorable comparisons between the Russian Su-57 and China’s own Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” a fifth-generation fighter developed domestically.

Some of the criticism may stem from the Kremlin’s decision to send a Su-57 prototype instead of a production model.

However, aviation enthusiasts swiftly pointed out design flaws and other perceived shortcomings, including an abundance of bolts and screws on the fuselage and misaligned sections.

“Lots of screws: A closer look at Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet at China’s Zhuhai Airshow,” reported open-source military news site Clash Report on X, echoing complaints seen on TikTok.

“Chinese social media is highly patriotic,” explained Roger Entner, a technology industry and social media analyst at Recon Analytics.

“China now believes its domestically developed fighter jets are superior to Russia’s.”

This sentiment may complicate Russia’s efforts to win over Chinese support or attract foreign buyers, the primary motivation behind showcasing the Su-57 at Zhuhai.

It may also offer the world insight into the fighter’s limitations.

“Russian aircraft may be fundamentally well-designed from an aeronautical perspective, but their manufacturing and materials technology are subpar,” noted Dr. Matthew Schmidt, associate professor of national security at the University of New Haven.

For the first time, Russia’s fifth-generation fighter, the Su-57, is on Chinese soil, taking part in “Airshow China 2024” in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province.

Developed by Sukhoi, the Su-57 is Russia’s most advanced fighter, though its production has reportedly faced issues due to stringent Western economic sanctions.

The Su-57 was designed to rival the United States’ fifth-generation fighters, the F-35 and the F-22 “Raptor.”

Its presence has attracted attention from Chinese media, especially as it joins other Chinese fighter jets like the J-15 and FC-31 (J-35).

The FC-31, China’s second fifth-generation fighter after the J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” is expected to operate on the decks of China’s aircraft carriers in the coming years.

The Su-57’s participation at the Zhuhai Airshow also underscores the growing military ties between China and Russia, especially as Moscow faces intense pressure from the United States and its allies over its invasion of Ukraine.

The jet’s presence in China aims to showcase to the world, and potential customers, the capabilities of Russia’s fighter aircraft, particularly in stealth technology, advanced avionics, and aerial agility.

Russia is actively marketing the Su-57 to foreign buyers already operating Russian-made fighters, positioning it as the fifth-generation fighter of choice.

Currently, the global market for fifth-generation fighters is dominated by the United States, with Lockheed Martin’s F-35 exported to various countries in Asia and Europe.

The F-22 “Raptor,” also developed by the U.S., remains unavailable for export.

Meanwhile, the Sukhoi Design Bureau continues efforts to enhance and expand the Su-57’s mission capabilities. — DSA