Satellite images dated February 9 show Russia concentrating at least 15 Su-57 fighters at Dzyomgi air base in the Khabarovsk region near the Chinese border, positioning a significant portion of its limited fleet close to the production plant and farther from Ukrainian drone strike range.
Satellite images indicate that Russia has concentrated at least 15 Su-57 stealth fighter jets at Dzyomgi Air Base in the Khabarovsk region, about 280 kilometers from the Chinese border. The imagery, published by the AviVector project and reported by the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi, shows a notable grouping of the aircraft at the site.
Imagery dated February 9 reportedly shows 15 Su-57 fighters parked in the open at the airfield. The base is also said to host 18 Su-35S multirole fighters, three MiG-31BM interceptors, and two Mi-8 helicopters.
According to Militarnyi, the total number of operational Su-57 aircraft remains relatively limited. Photo evidence confirms at least 16 airframes, while several additional units have recently been delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces. Including prototypes and early production models, the overall fleet is estimated at roughly 20 to 25 aircraft.
The concentration of Su-57 jets at Dzyomgi is considered deliberate. The base lies close to the Gagarin Aircraft Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, part of United Aircraft Corporation, which is responsible for Su-57 assembly. Some aircraft may still be undergoing testing and gradual development of combat capability, requiring proximity to technical support and manufacturing facilities.
Another explanation suggested in the report relates to force protection. Stationing the aircraft in Russia’s Far East places them farther from the combat zone in Ukraine and within the coverage of regional air defense systems.
The deployment follows earlier incidents involving Su-57 aircraft. Ukrainian drone strikes previously targeted the Akhtubinsk air base in the Astrakhan region, including an attack on aircraft parking areas in June 2024.
The Su-57 is Russia’s fifth-generation multirole fighter designed for air superiority and strike missions. It incorporates stealth features and advanced avionics and is intended to become a central element of Russia’s future tactical aviation capabilities.
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