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Russia Sells Su-57 Stealth Jets Abroad for the First Time in Secretive Arms Deal
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has reportedly delivered the first export units of its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft, according to statements made by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) CEO Vadim Badekha on November 18.
The announcement, carried by Russian media Interfax, marks what Moscow claims to be the beginning of international operations for its most advanced combat aircraft.
According to Interfax, Badekha stated that “the first two aircraft have already been received by our foreign customer and are now in active service,” adding that the buyer is “satisfied” with the fighters’ performance. The name of the purchasing country was not disclosed.
This follows Rosoboronexport’s earlier announcement in November 2024 that it had signed the first export contract for the Su-57, though no client was identified at the time.
However, documents leaked by the hacker group Black Mirror and allegedly originating from the state conglomerate Rostec suggest that Algeria is the buyer. The North African country has long-standing defense ties with Russia and is known to operate various Russian aircraft, including the Su-30MKA.
The announcement coincides with the public presentation of the export variant of the Su-57—designated Su-57E—at the Dubai Airshow 2025.
As reported by TASS, the aircraft was demonstrated on November 17 by Sukhoi’s chief test pilot Sergei Bogdan. The Su-57E displayed at the event carried the tail number “509.”
This marks the latest attempt by Moscow to market its fifth-generation stealth fighter to Middle Eastern and Asian customers, as Russia seeks to position the Su-57 as an alternative to US and Chinese platforms like the F-35 and J-20. The presentation in Dubai followed earlier showings of the aircraft in India and China.
The Su-57 is a multirole stealth fighter developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and produced at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant.
It first flew in 2010 and entered limited service in 2020. Designed for air superiority and strike missions, the aircraft features low-observable technologies and internal weapons bays.
Despite these characteristics, Western military analysts have questioned the Su-57’s combat maturity. Army Recognition noted that while the Su-57 may possess superior kinematic performance compared to the F-35, it lags in avionics and software integration.
The aircraft’s development has also faced numerous delays. The first serial-production unit crashed during a test flight in 2019. In June 2024, satellite imagery confirmed damage to at least one Su-57 following a Ukrainian drone strike on Akhtubinsk airbase in southern Russia.
Earlier, on November 4, InformNapalm and the cyber team Fenix published leaked internal documents revealing that Russia’s PAK DA stealth bomber and Su-57 fighter jet programs rely heavily on imported components and foreign CNC machinery—despite years of state investment.
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