u/ArchitectMary

In one of the images, the difference between the single-seat Su-57 and the two-seat Su-57D is visible.

“Flight testing of the prototype of the two-seat fifth-generation fighter jet, the Su-57, has begun. This aircraft, proactively developed by our aircraft manufacturers, will not only have unique combat characteristics but will also function as a combat trainer and a combat command aircraft,” reported Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

The aircraft was piloted by test pilot and Hero of Russia, Sergei Bogdan. The flight proceeded as planned, in accordance with the flight mission requirements.

According to the NYT, US military officials reported that Iranian commanders were studying the flight patterns of US fighter jets and bombers, allegedly with Russian assistance, making US operations more predictable and increasing the effectiveness of Iranian air defenses.

It is also noted that US officials view the potential downing of F-15Es and damage to F-35s as signs of a growing risk to US aviation.

This is not particularly surprising, since the Congressional analysis unit, in preparing the report, relied on the same publicly available data accessible to all observers of the conflict, because the Pentagon "has not published a comprehensive assessment of combat losses."

According to the report, the United States lost 42 aircraft—either destroyed or damaged—during the war against Iran, including airplanes, helicopters, and drones. Among them:

▪️1 F-35 Lightning II fighter jet damaged by Iranian air defense fire;

▪️1 F-35 fighter jet, damaged by Iranian air defense fire.

▪️4 F-15E Strike Eagle attack aircraft (3 shot down by the Kuwaiti Air Force in a friendly fire incident and 1 shot down by Iranian air defenses).

▪️1 A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, shot down by Iranian air defenses.

▪️1 E-3G Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft, destroyed at Prince Sultan Air Base.

▪️7 KC-135 tanker aircraft (1 crashed and 1 damaged in a mid-air collision, 5 damaged by Iranian fire at the air base).

▪️2 MC-130J Commando II aircraft, destroyed by the United States during a rescue operation in Iran due to the impossibility of evacuation.

▪️1 HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, damaged by ground fire during a search and rescue operation.

▪️One MQ-4C Triton reconnaissance drone crashed over the Persian Gulf.

▪️Twenty-four MQ-9 Reaper drones shot down by Iranian air defenses.

However, this report, compiled from disparate sources, does not include other publicly known U.S. aviation losses, such as CH-47 Chinook helicopters, UH-60s, CH-53 Sea Stallions, approximately four MH-6 Little Birds, and one KC-135. These losses would raise the known total to nearly 50 aircraft, instead of the 42 reported.

This indicates that the U.S. Congressional report is clearly incomplete and does not even include some publicly known losses, not to mention possible damaged aircraft whose details have not yet been released.

This is not particularly surprising, since the Congressional analysis unit, in preparing the report, relied on the same publicly available data accessible to all observers of the conflict, because the Pentagon "has not published a comprehensive assessment of combat losses."

According to the report, the United States lost 42 aircraft—either destroyed or damaged—during the war against Iran, including airplanes, helicopters, and drones. Among them:

▪️1 F-35 Lightning II fighter jet damaged by Iranian air defense fire;

▪️1 F-35 fighter jet, damaged by Iranian air defense fire.

▪️4 F-15E Strike Eagle attack aircraft (3 shot down by the Kuwaiti Air Force in a friendly fire incident and 1 shot down by Iranian air defenses).

▪️1 A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, shot down by Iranian air defenses.

▪️1 E-3G Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft, destroyed at Prince Sultan Air Base.

▪️7 KC-135 tanker aircraft (1 crashed and 1 damaged in a mid-air collision, 5 damaged by Iranian fire at the air base).

▪️2 MC-130J Commando II aircraft, destroyed by the United States during a rescue operation in Iran due to the impossibility of evacuation.

▪️1 HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, damaged by ground fire during a search and rescue operation.

▪️One MQ-4C Triton reconnaissance drone crashed over the Persian Gulf.

▪️Twenty-four MQ-9 Reaper drones shot down by Iranian air defenses.

However, this report, compiled from disparate sources, does not include other publicly known U.S. aviation losses, such as CH-47 Chinook helicopters, UH-60s, CH-53 Sea Stallions, approximately four MH-6 Little Birds, and one KC-135. These losses would raise the known total to nearly 50 aircraft, instead of the 42 reported.

This indicates that the U.S. Congressional report is clearly incomplete and does not even include some publicly known losses, not to mention possible damaged aircraft whose details have not yet been released.