Russia’s Su-57 Felon fighter jet, showcased for the first time at Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, has become the subject of widespread mockery on Chinese social media.
Close-up photos and videos of the aircraft, revealing questionable assembly quality, have sparked criticism and ridicule among Chinese internet users.
The first Su-57 arrived in Zhuhai on Monday, with a second stealth fighter jet transported aboard an An-124 cargo aircraft. The initial Su-57 is scheduled to perform flight demonstrations, while the second will be on static display, allowing attendees to closely inspect Russia’s flagship fifth-generation fighter.
According to the Defense Express magazine, criticism from Chinese observers centers on visible construction flaws, including numerous bolts securing fuselage panels and poorly aligned sections. While the use of visible bolts was previously known, the poor panel fitment and the inconsistency in assembly have drawn sharp remarks. The rear section, shown in detail for the first time, features bolts with varying head types—Phillips, flathead, and hexagonal—raising questions about the manufacturing process.
A very rare close-up look at Russian Su-57 5th generation stealth aircraft at Zhuhai Airshow 2024.
#ZhuhaiAirshow2024 #AirshowChina #China #AirShow2024 pic.twitter.com/lhaFdJVM15
— Global Defense Agency (@Defense_GDA) November 4, 2024
Chinese social media users have drawn unfavorable comparisons between the Su-57 and China’s Chengdu J-20 fighter, which Beijing promotes as a more advanced and better-crafted fifth-generation aircraft. Many comments emphasized that the Su-57, despite being a prototype (designated T-50-4, serial number 054), does not meet the expectations for a state-of-the-art stealth fighter.
A Su-57 Felon demonstrator unloading from An-124 Ruslan arrived at Zhuhai Jinwan airport for Airshow China 2024,#ZhuhaiAirshow2024 #AirshowChina #Zhuhai2024 pic.twitter.com/Qr3WTKTljO
— Global Defense Agency (@Defense_GDA) November 4, 2024
“Videos of the Su-57’s construction flaws are circulating widely, and Chinese users are openly mocking the Russian aircraft,” reported Defense Express, which analyzed the commentary. This highlights the Su-57’s perceived shortcomings and China’s growing confidence in its aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
The dual presence of Su-57 aircraft at Airshow China 2024, intended to bolster Russia’s military aviation prestige, has instead spotlighted production inconsistencies.