An Israeli Eros B satellite, which belongs to the iSi satellite operator reportedly has managed to take a picture of several vehicles at Hmeymim airbase in Syria. Two of them looked very much like Russian latest fifth-generation jets Su-57.
#ISI reveals the first deployment of two #Russian stealth fighters #SU-57, as can be seen in Eros-B #satellite imagery from yesterday pic.twitter.com/SoOEhhpe0R
— imagesatintl (@imagesatint) February 24, 2018
The rumours about Russian stealth fighters deployment in Syria have been circulating in media since Febuary 21, when pictures of what looked like two Su-57 started to appear in social media. The reports also said that the jet fighters had been escorted by Russian 4+ generation Sui-30SM multi-role fighter jets.
Didn’t see that coming!!#RuAF deployed today few numbers of their fifth generation fighter jet the Su-57 in #Khmemeim #Syria
— Wael Al Hussaini (@WaelAlHussaini) February 21, 2018
Along with
4 Su-35
4 Su-25
1 A-50U pic.twitter.com/2W9ZLPNAOs
Exclusive#Russia deploying its brand new fifth generation fighter jet the Su-57 in #Khmemeim AB #Syria
— Wael Al Hussaini (@WaelAlHussaini) February 21, 2018
2 Su-57
4 Su-35
4 Su-25
1 A-50U were deployed in the #RuAF AB in Latakia/Jableh today pic.twitter.com/MA4NIKyMW7
Couple of days later, Sputnik Arabic reported, referring to local media outlets, that two more Russian fifth generation Su-57 stealth fighters have arrived at Hmeymim Airbase.
New photos showing the additional 2 Russian Su-57 escorted by #RuAF Su-30SM
— Wael Al Hussaini (@WaelAlHussaini) February 23, 2018
landing today in the Russian Air Force base in #Khmemeim #Syria
And a photo for the RuAF A-50U #41 Red landing at the AB after a combat mission. pic.twitter.com/FIV8xcpeuJ
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to the reports by saying that the issue was "more within the responsibility of the Defense Ministry," and redirecting the question to the MoD. So far, Russian Defense Ministry have stayed mum on the subject.
The new Su-57 aircraft is designed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi for air superiority and attack roles. The machine is fitted, among other things, with advanced avionics system capable of autonomous calculations of the battlefield situation as well as airborne active phased array radar, capable of detecting air, ground and naval targets at distances far beyond most modern systems.
On Thursday, Russian lawmaker Vladimir Gutenev told Sputnik that the deployment of the Russian stealth fighters may serve as a constraining factor for aircraft of neighboring states that periodically violate Syrian airspace.
The United States is known to have its own fifth-generation stealth fighter, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, deployed in the Middle Eastern theatre. In December, the Russian Defense Ministry's spokesperson reported that an American F-22 fighter actively prevented the Russian pair of Su-25 attack aircraft from carrying out a combat mission to destroy the Daesh stronghold in the suburbs of the city of Mayadin in the airspace over the western bank of the Euphrates River. The US-led coalition currently conducts its military operations in Syria without UN approval or coordination with the Syrian government.
