Russia calls the fighter one of the most advanced fifth-generation fighters in the world, yet nearly everything about the aircraft remains surrounded by unanswered questions. Designed as Moscow’s response to the F-22 Raptor, it took a different approach to modern air combat, sacrificing some stealth for extreme maneuverability, speed, powerful sensors, internal weapons bays, and the ability to track multiple targets across a wide field of view.
But more than 15 years after its first flight, the fighter is still operating without the next-generation engine it was originally designed around, while even basic details such as how many aircraft Russia has actually built remain disputed.
Moscow claims the fighter has proven itself in combat over Ukraine, including air-to-air victories and attacks against Ukrainian air defenses, while independent accounts describe a much more cautious role dominated by long-range missile launches from well behind the front lines.
Then, in July 2026, one crashed outside Moscow under circumstances that became another mystery, with competing reports blaming a technical failure, friendly fire, or even a possible cyberattack.
Meanwhile, potential foreign customers have repeatedly walked away, leaving Algeria as the only country described in the script as having actually purchased the fighter. This is the complicated story of an aircraft capable of spectacular airshow performances and surrounded by extraordinary claims, but whose true combat capability, production numbers, reliability, and place among the world's most advanced fighters remain remarkably difficult to determine.
Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.
Source: Dark Skies
