Russia: Su-57 Fighter Jet Explodes During Engine Start Before Takeoff, Ukrainian Intelligence Says

EURO TIMES

A Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet suffered an explosion or severe engine fire while preparing to take off at the Akhtubinsk airbase in Russia’s Astrakhan region, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (HUR).

The incident reportedly occurred on October 29, 2026, and was disclosed by Ukrainian intelligence on November 2. The French newspaper Le Parisien reported on the incident on November 4.

Explosion during engine startup

Ukrainian intelligence said the incident took place as the aircraft’s engines were being started on the ground. The Kyiv Independent reported the intelligence agency’s account of a fire involving the aircraft. The extent of the damage has not been established through publicly available Russian investigation findings.

HUR placed the fighter’s value at approximately $150 million. That figure is an estimate and does not necessarily reflect the procurement price of every Russian-operated Su-57.

Fuel quality raised as a possible factor

Ukrainian intelligence suggested that deteriorating aviation fuel quality could have contributed to a failure involving the aircraft’s AL-41F1 engines. The agency did not establish a direct link between a specific fuel batch and the reported explosion, according to Hromadske.

The suggestion comes against a backdrop of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure and reports about changes to Russia’s aviation-fuel supply chain.

A limited fleet of advanced aircraft

The twin-engine Su-57 is Russia’s fifth-generation multirole fighter, designed for air-to-air combat and strikes against ground targets. Its production fleet remains relatively small compared with Russia’s other fighter types.

A report by Armées, citing estimates attributed to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, put the number of operational Su-57 fighters at around 21 in early 2026.

Previous incidents

Ukrainian reports have also described damage to Su-57 aircraft in drone attacks earlier in 2026 and a separate reported loss in July. The latest incident has brought renewed attention to Russia’s advanced fighter programme and its efforts to expand production.