Leaks reveal deep cracks in Russia’s aerospace industry Su-57, PAK DA “crippled”

Classified Russian defence industry documents leaked by InformNapalm on November 4, 2025, and analyzed alongside reporting from 19FortyFive, claim Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighter and PAK DA bomber programs are being severely constrained by dependence on foreign components and production machinery.

Experts cited in the analysis argue that systemic industrial weaknesses have undermined Russia’s ability to sustain advanced aviation production, invoking the adage about the “kingdom being lost for want of a nail.”

The Su-57, intended to replace Su-30SM and Su-35 fighters, remains largely in prototype form, with aircraft displayed at international airshows in China, India, and the UAE. Observers criticized its build quality, with a Ukrainian publication noting: “What especially catches the eye is the huge number of bolts holding the fuselage panels together, but this is not news, as previous models had the same look. The joints connecting the weapon bay doors with other elements of the fuselage also speak volumes about the real technological level of aircraft construction in Russia and its production culture as a whole.”

The PAK DA strategic bomber, conceived in 2008 and envisioned as a flying-wing aircraft comparable to the US B-21, has experienced repeated delays despite claims of digital design completion and full-cycle modeling capability.

According to Russian industry data cited in the report, over 40 percent of factories face staffing shortages, while the aviation sector lacked more than 14,000 workers by 2023. Engineering enrollment has also declined sharply, deepening concerns about long-term workforce sustainability.

Sanctions imposed after the 2022 Ukraine invasion have cut access to Western electronics. Aerocomposite CEO Anatoly Gaydansky warned: “Domestic producers aren’t even close to meeting the needs of the sector… the electronic component base is a significant area of concern.”

The leak also highlights supplier OKBM’s inability to produce key aerospace components due to reliance on restricted CNC machine tools, with firms reportedly attempting sanctions evasion to maintain output.

Overall, the analysis suggests that sanctions, workforce decline, and supply-chain constraints are combining to slow Russia’s most advanced aviation programs, raising broader questions about the sustainability of its defense aerospace sector in the coming decade according to experts cited in the report and industry sources warn.

By Vafa Guliyeva