Major Fire Threatens Russia’s Only Stealth Fighter Production Line

A fire at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant in the Russian Far East has raised questions regarding the future of production of the Su-35 and Su-57 fighters, which are assembled exclusively at the facility.  Open-source intelligence indicates that the fire broke out in Shop No. 46 of the plant, a crucial facility responsible for producing polymer composite material (PCM) components used in the Su-57’s airframe. Around 300 different part designs are manufactured there, including roughly 100 large structural elements. These parts include aileron and flaperon panels, floor sections, and outer wing tip fairings. These components are highly specialised and cannot be quickly sourced from another domestic supplier, raising the possibility that serious damage to the facility could set production back by several years. 

While the size of the fire and the extent of the damage to the facility remain uncertain, if it does cause delays to the production of the Su-57 this would have significant implications not only for the Russian Armed Forces, but also for the country’s arms export profile. Algeria was previously expected to receive several fighters before the end of the year, after having operationalised the first two in late 2025. The Indian Defence Ministry in January 2026 confirmed that talks for the license production of the Su-57 had reached an advanced technical stage, while in early February Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov announced that contracts had already been signed in the Middle East region for the export of the Su-57, fuelling speculation that Iran was the most likely client. Multiple Russian and European defence production facilities have suffered major fires since the outbreak of full scale hostilities in the Ukrainian theatre in February 2022, fuelling widespread speculation of possible sabotage. 

The Russian Aerospace Forces in early February received a new batch of Su-57s, with the state run United Aircraft Corporation reporting that the aircraft have benefited from continued refinements to the design. They have reportedly integrated updated avionics systems that expand the range of missions they are capable of performing, with upgrades particularly emphasising improvements to weapons integration and operational flexibility. In August 2025 Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces Lieutenant General Alexander Maksimtsev confirmed that preparations were underway for deliveries of Su-57 fighters at an accelerated rate. This followed the opening of new facilities in August for production of the aircraft, raising the possibility that increased production rates. Continued efforts to both enhance the Su-57, and to expand production, have gained newfound importance due to both the rapid rise in tensions between Russia and NATO members, and due to the ongoing talks with India regarding a license production deal.