Russia secures foreign contracts for Su‑57 fighter jets
Russia has signed its first contracts for the delivery of the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet to foreign clients, announced Aleksandr Mikheyev, president of the state arms exporter Rosoboronexport. However, it is not known which country has decided to purchase the Russian fighter jet or in what quantity.
17 November 2024 14:54
The Russian economy, affected by sanctions following the Kremlin's bloody war in Ukraine, is struggling with numerous difficulties. The loss of access to Western markets and technologies is forcing Moscow to open up to new markets.
In November, the Russians boasted of a success in the technology sector that the Kremlin had not recorded in years. The head of Rosoboronexport, who participated in the Airshow China in Zhuhai, admitted that Russia "signed the first contracts for the Su-57." He emphasised that the fighter jet enjoyed significant interest at the shows.
Russians announce success: "The only one in the world"
"The economic effect is that we are present in the market, and our partners from friendly countries want to buy reliable and proven Russian weapons [...] so that we can continue to develop and create new products for the next 10-15 years," said Mikheyev, quoted by TASS.
“It is the only fifth-generation fighter jet in the world that has proven effective against modern Western air defence systems, including the Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T,” stated Sergey Chemezov, CEO of the Russian state defence corporation Rostec.
Su-57: These countries may buy fighters from Russia
The Su-57, designated as "Felon" in NATO code, is a Russian multirole fifth-generation fighter jet designed to attack targets in the air, at sea, and on land. It can reach twice the speed of sound (about 2,500 kph). The Russians pride themselves on its stealth systems, among other features. The aircraft, measuring approximately 20 metres, can fly at an altitude of 20,000 metres. The Su-57 was initially intended to be a response to the American F-22 Raptor.
Portalobronny.se.pl speculates that Moscow's contractors may include Iran, Turkey, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, or North Korea. "There was speculation that the Su-57 might tempt China, but they have their own fifth-generation fighters, the J-20 'Mighty Dragon' and the recently presented J-35A, which further excludes a contract," reads the report.
