Russia has deployed its new Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jet to Syria to test it in real-life conditions and show off the country's air power, according to on-the-ground footage and media reports.

Intended as the Russian answer to the US military's Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, this fifth-generation stealth fighter is designed to overwhelm both air and ground targets while eluding radar.

It has been in development since 2001 and in flight tests since 2010, but has yet to enter production. Now its capabilities are being measured against top-of-the-line Western stealth jets in Syria, one pundit said.

A Twitter account that monitors the conflict posted a video and photos last week of what appeared to be two pairs of Su-57s landing at Russia's Khmeimim airbase in Syria, sparking a flurry of discussion.