Russia's enigmatic arms deal: Su‑57 jets set for unknown ally
According to the Defence Express portal, during the Aero India 2025 exhibition, the Russian delegation revealed that its first foreign customer would begin receiving Su-57 fighter jets by the end of 2025. However, the specific country involved remains a mystery.
The Aero India 2025 exhibition is only the second – after the Airshow China 2024 in China – international event where the Russians are promoting the Su-57, and it is also the first where the Su-57 encounters the F-35. While the Americans have significantly limited aircraft demonstrations, the Russians are striving to make the Su-57 the star of the show in Bangalore. Some observers perceive numerous displays combined with statements from representatives of Rosoboronexport as attempts to overshadow many issues related to the Su-57.
Su-57 at Aero India 2025
Defence Express recalls that the Russians very often prematurely announce "successes" in their defence industry, especially after initiating the war in Ukraine, as their position as an arms exporter on the global markets has significantly declined since then.
The first foreign order for the Su-57 was announced in November 2024, but the statement about delivering the ordered aircraft to the client in 2025 is considered by Defence Express as the first "specific" promise. This declaration is even more significant since Alexander Mikheev, the head of Rosoboronexport, made it.
Mysterious client for Russian fighter jets
One thing remains unchanged — the identity of the first country to order and receive Su-57 fighter jets has not been revealed. The list of potential buyers is relatively short, although at one point it seemed larger, with even Turkey being mentioned among the interested parties. In recent months, analysts have narrowed it down exclusively to North Korea, Iran, and Algeria. The most likely scenario suggests it is the last of these countries.
The Su-57 is an aircraft measuring about 22 metres in length, capable of reaching speeds over Mach 2 (about 2,445 km/h) and operating at an altitude of 20,000 metres. It is equipped with a 30mm 9A-4071K cannon and is adapted to carry missiles on 12 hardpoints (six internal and six external).
In 2019, Vladimir Putin first publicly referred to the Su-57 as "the best military aircraft in the world." The Russians have repeatedly and continue to present the Su-57 as a 5th-generation fighter made with stealth technology, although some experts believe the Russian aircraft may actually struggle with evading radar detection. Due to concerns about the effectiveness of this technology, India withdrew from purchasing the Su-57. The Aero India 2025 exhibition could, however, be an opportunity for the Russian delegation to engage in further negotiations.
