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There are three countries currently that claim to have produced 5th Generation stealth fighters: the United States ( the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II), the People’s Republic of China (the Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon and Shenyang J-35), and Russia (the Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name Felon).

As of early 2026, Russia’s entire fleet of fifth-generation stealth fighters, the Su-57 Felon, is estimated at 20-25 operational aircraft, including prototypes and test airframes.

Su-57 Felon Fighter from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The Saab 35 Draken (Dragon) was a highly effective Cold War fighter designed for Sweden to intercept bombers in all-weather conditions. Known for its unique double-delta wing, it was capable of short-field operations from roads, possessed excellent high-altitude performance, and was considered a very capable dogfighter, though it required careful handling to avoid “superstalls.”

Saab 37 Viggen Flying. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Ask most people what the hardest part of military life is, and they’ll say deployments. Ask a military spouse, and you’ll get a very different answer.
Military spouses carry a unique weight that often goes unseen. After asking military spouses to share their biggest struggle, their raw responses reveal the reality behind the PCS moves, career sacrifices, loneliness, and resilience that define military family life.

Ukraine has found another cost-effective answer to Russia’s mass drone campaign: launch interceptors from the air.
Combat footage released April 23 by Ukrainian pilot Tymur Fatkullin shows a modified Antonov An-28 Cash twin-turboprop air-launching P1-SUN interceptors from underwing pylons, with confirmed kills against Russian Shahed-type one-way attack drones. 
The footage, first posted to Instagram by account aero.tim, provides the first public confirmation of aerial interceptor launches resulting in combat kills in the conflict, writes SOFX.

RN Prasher, Asia Times
Dueling blockades, dead-end diplomacy and a regime still intact — the pause in hostilities is solving nothing and storing up far worse to come

Ben Wolfgang, WashTimes
its biggest hurdle might be an “entrenched” Pentagon bureaucracy that military insiders fear could doom the project

Jeans, Reuters
Last August,

Matt Broomfield, UnHerd
Tehran is rallying its proxies

Marine Corps Compass Points
As the blockade of Operation Epic Fury continues, there are new developments in Ukraine and in defense laboratories creating new equipment for US Marines.

Despite its stealthy appearance and purported speed, many questions remain about how much of a threat Russia’s 5th-generation Su-57 Felon poses to adversaries.

Russian media reports extensively on the airframe’s performance parameters, yet little is known about its computing, weapons interfaces, sensing, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.

Su-57 Felon Fighter. Image Credit: X Screenshot.

Su-57 Felon Fighter from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The Su-57 looks stealthy to the observer, with its blended-wing body and rounded fuselage.