{"id":58808,"date":"2018-03-09T21:48:14","date_gmt":"2018-03-09T21:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/09\/is-russia-holding-back-on-why-it-deployed-fifth-gen-fighters-to-syria\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:25:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:25:42","slug":"is-russia-holding-back-on-why-it-deployed-fifth-gen-fighters-to-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/techwatch\/2018\/03\/09\/is-russia-holding-back-on-why-it-deployed-fifth-gen-fighters-to-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Russia holding back on why it deployed fifth-gen fighters to Syria?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Russia’s defense minister has spoken publicly about the Su-57’s presence in Syria, but is there more to the story than what he is revealing?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

BEIRUT \u2014 Following media speculation and online videos about the supposed deployment<\/a> of at least four Russian Su-57 fighter jets in Syria, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has publicly said only two of the fifth-generation stealth fighters were carrying out two-day combat testing missions in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey really were there. Not for long, just two days. Over this time they conducted a trial program, including a combat trial,\u201d Shoigu told journalists March 1. \u201cI can tell you that the trial was successful; the planes returned home a week ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, defense observers have been left wondering if there\u2019s more to why the aircraft was deployed to Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A military source said on condition of anonymity that \u201cthe deployment of the Russian stealth aircraft in Khmeimim Air Base would be a great opportunity to test the T-50\u2019s configuration in an area where a large number of U.S. F-22 stealth jets operate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Su-57 was known as the T-50 prior to its official designation.
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