Russia's Su-57 Felon Fighter Exposes Its Teeth in Unprecedented Weapons Bay Reveal
- MM24 News Desk
- Nov 12
- 2 min read
Russian aerospace firm United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has released stunning footage showing the loaded weapons bays of an Su-57 Felon fighter jet, offering the clearest look yet at the warplane's internal arsenal. The video, part of a promotional push ahead of the Dubai Airshow, features the T-50-9 prototype in flight with its forward bay open, revealing a pair of Kh-58UShK anti-radiation missiles.
This marks the first time in 15 years—since the jet's prototype first flew—that Russia has publicly displayed the Su-57 with its internal weapons exposed in such a detailed manner. While past imagery has shown weapons being released, the sight of missiles loaded and clearly visible inside the bay during flight is a new and calculated display of capability, reported The War Zone. The move comes as Moscow embarks on a fresh export drive for the stealth fighter, which has so far reportedly only been ordered by Algeria.
The footage provides a rare glimpse into one of the Felon's most critical design features: its pair of notably large internal weapons bays arranged in tandem between the engines. Why does internal carriage matter so much? For a fifth-generation fighter like the Su-57, stowing weapons internally is essential for maintaining a low radar signature, a key component of stealth. By keeping missiles hidden away inside these bays, the aircraft becomes far more difficult for enemy radar to detect, allowing it to penetrate contested airspace.
Each of these main bays is impressively sized, designed to carry two missiles with a maximum length of just under 14 feet. For reasons that have never been fully clarified, it took Sukhoi a surprisingly long time to begin testing this fundamental capability.
Internal weapons trials only commenced in 2016, a full six years after the initial T-50 prototype first took to the air. It was in March of that year that a Felon first launched an undisclosed missile from one of its main bays, a critical milestone in the jet's protracted development.
The specific weapon seen in the new video, the Kh-58UShK, is a telling choice. This is an anti-radiation missile, a weapon designed to hunt and destroy enemy air defense systems by homing in on their radar signals.
Its presence in the bay signals that one of the Su-57's primary intended roles is Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), a dangerous and highly specialized mission. By showcasing this weapon, UAC is directly appealing to potential export customers who may be looking for an aircraft capable of countering advanced, radar-guided threats.
For the air-to-air combat role, the tandem bays are intended to house two specially adapted beyond-visual-range missiles. These are the medium-range R-77M (izdeliye 180) and the very-long-range izdeliye 810. This combination would allow the Felon to engage enemy aircraft from extreme distances while still preserving its stealthy profile.
The planned display of the armed T-50-9 prototype in Dubai is therefore more than just a static exhibit; it is a strategic demonstration of a mature and multi-role weapons system. After years of development delays and limited production, Russia is pulling back the curtain to prove that its premier stealth fighter is finally ready for the world stage.
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