Su-57 fighter exploded at Russian airfield, Ukraine's HUR says

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) said that on 29 October, at the Russian military airfield in Akhtubinsk, the newest multirole Su-57 fighter exploded while its engines were being started. The agency reported this on Telegram. HUR estimates that one such aircraft costs about USD 150 million (CZK 3.25 billion).

One possible cause of the explosion may have been poor-quality aviation fuel: after Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, Russia has to import it from abroad. According to HUR, Russia apparently uses the Nayara Energy refinery in Vadinar, India, for seaborne deliveries of petrol and aviation fuel.

The Su-57 is Russia's newest and most expensive fighter. Moscow describes it as a manoeuvrable fifth-generation fighter with stealth technology (reduced radar visibility) that is meant to compete with the American F-22 and F-35.

Despite its claimed capabilities, the Su-57 has been used only to a limited extent during the invasion of Ukraine. This year Russia has already lost at least three such aircraft: two in April after a drone strike on the Shagol airfield in the Chelyabinsk region, and another crashed or was shot down by Russia's own air defence near Moscow in July.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz