We haven’t yet seen a head-to-head matchup between the two advanced fighter jets—because Russia has kept its Su-57s as far from the front lines as possible.
Ukraine now operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon, providing a significant improvement in air combat capability and allowing it to stand up to Russia’s Cold War-era Sukhoi fighter jets on roughly equal terms—or even surpass them. But what would happen if Russia responded with its most advanced fighter, the fifth-generation Su-57 Felon?
Russia has so far declined to use the Su-57 in battle in Ukraine, reasoning that the aircraft is difficult enough to produce that losing even a small number would be catastrophic for Russia’s air capabilities. But if this were to change, and Russia were to begin using the Su-57 aggressively for air superiority missions over or near Ukraine—placing it in direct contact with the F-16—how would the two jets fare?
Russia’s Su-57 vs. Ukraine’s F-16: The Head to Head
| Aircraft | F-16AM Fighting Falcon (Ukraine) | Su-57 Felon (Russia) |
| Year Introduced | 1979 | 2020 |
| Number Built | 4,600+ (all variants) | Unknown; ~50+ (production ongoing) |
| Length | 49.3 ft (15 m) | 65.9 ft (20.1 m) |
| Wingspan | 32.8 ft (10 m) | 46.6 ft (14.2 m) |
| Weight (MTOW) | 37,500 lb (17,010 kg) | ~77,200 lb (35,000 kg) |
| Engine(s) | One Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan | Two Saturn AL-41F1 afterburning turbofans |
| Top Speed | Mach 2.0 (~1,500 mph / 2,414 km/h) | Mach 2.0 (~1,500 mph / 2,414 km/h) |
| Range | ~340 mi (550 km) combat radius, depending on mission~2,620 mi (4,220 km) ferry range | ~940 mi (1,500 km) combat radius, depending on mission~2,175 mi (3,500 km) ferry range |
| Service Ceiling | 50,000+ ft (15,240 m) | ~66,000 ft (20,000 m) |
| Loadout | 20mm M61A1 Vulcan autocannon; range of bombs and missiles | 30mm GSh-30-1 cannon; range of bombs and missiles |
| Aircrew | 1–2, depending on variant | 1 |
Why Ukraine’s F-16s Would Likely Come Up Short in an Air Battle
Ukraine isn’t operating the newest F-16V Block 70/72. Instead, the aircraft donated to Ukraine primarily consist of older F-16AM/BM Mid-Life Update jets, originally built during the Cold War but substantially modernized. The key strengths are modernized radar and avionics, NATO-compatible communications, and precision weapons integration—including AIM-120 AMRAAM BVR air-to-air missiles and AIM-9 Sidewinders for shorter-range engagements. The F-16 is a capable plane, with Mach 2 speeds, high maneuverability, a mature logistics and weapons ecosystem, and a proven combat record. Still, it’s a non-stealth fourth-generation fighter with a radar signature and sensor suite that would be outmatched against the Su-57.
Russia’s Su-57 was designed as a counter to America’s F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II generation. With twin engines and supersonic speed, the Su-57 is hyper-maneuverable. The intended capabilities include a reduced radar signature, powerful N036 Byelka AESA radar, infrared search-and-track, sensor fusion, internal weapons carriage, and long-range air-to-air missiles. And while the Su-57’s stealth is less impressive than the F-22’s or the F-35’s, it’s still sufficient to grant a combat edge over the F-16.
So in BVR combat—far and away the most relevant form of combat in modern air battles—the Su-57 would have a major advantage. With low-observable shaping, the F-16 would have difficulty detecting the Su-57, while its comparatively large radar signature would be more readily detectable. This asymmetry gives the Su-57 high potential for a first-look and first-shot advantage. The Su-57 could then deploy its R-77-series radar-guided missiles earlier than the F-16 could deploy its AIM-120.
In WVR, or dogfighting, the matchup becomes more even. The F-16 remains a highly capable dogfighter with excellent thrust-to-weight, sustained maneuverability, world-class pilot visibility, and mature short-range weapons. But the Su-57, too, is highly maneuverable with a large lifting body, advanced flight controls, high angle-of-attack abilities, and thrust-vectoring engines. In pure aerodynamic terms, the Su-57 could have the edge. But that doesn’t necessarily decide the outcomes in a dogfight. Either aircraft would be entirely lethal up close.
Air combat doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Each aircraft operates within a network of air defense systems. Russia has S-400 and S-300 SAMs on its side, plus an airborne early warning system and network of radars. Ukraine has Patriots, NASAMS, IRIS-T, SAMs, and Western radar and ISR support. The most decisive factor affecting the outcome of the matchup would probably not be the planes themselves, but where in the war the engagement was taking place; either side would have a significant home-field advantage.
This means that if Russia were to aggressively introduce the Su-57 to the battlefield in Ukraine, it wouldn’t automatically give Russia uncontested air superiority. And there are myriad factors in determining who would actually win a contest between the two. Still, in isolated terms, as a pure technical matchup, the Su-57 indeed holds an advantage over the fourth-gen F-16.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a writer and attorney focused on national security, technology, and political culture. His work has appeared in Tablet, City Journal, The Hill, The Spectator, and The Cipher Brief. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global & Joint Program Studies from NYU. More at harrisonkass.com.
