MOSCOW, Dec 25 (NNN-TASS) – Russian officials say, a top-of-the-line fighter jet crashed, on a training mission, but that its pilot bailed out safely.
Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, said that, the Su-57 fighter came down, during a training flight near Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in the country’s far east. It said, the plane’s pilot ejected safely and there was no damage on the ground.
The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known.
The Su-57, which made its maiden flight in 2010, is Russia’s most advanced fighter plane. It has stealth capability and carries sophisticated equipment and weapons. The twin-engine aircraft has been designed by the Sukhoi company, to compete with the U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighter.
The crash marks the first loss of a Su-57, 10 of which have been built at Sukhoi’s plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, for pre-production tests and combat evaluation. Some of them have been flown in combat during Russia’s military campaign in Syria.
The Russian air force placed an order for 76 such aircraft to be delivered by 2028.– NNN-TASS