Russia confirms first Su-57 export delivery as speculation centres on Algeria
November 18, 2025
Russia has publicly acknowledged for the first time that its Su-57 fighter has reached a foreign customer, immediately reviving speculation that Algeria is the unnamed buyer.
The disclosure came almost in passing from United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) director general Vadim Badeha, who told state broadcaster Pyerviy Kanal that two aircraft had already been handed over. He offered no dates, no location, and no indication of who received them.
Given the steady stream of signals from Moscow and Algiers over the past year, the comment was enough to push a long-running rumour back into the foreground.
Why Algeria is central to Su-57 export speculation
Algeria has been linked to the Su-57 since at least 2020, and a sequence of official and semi-official statements early this year suggested a deal was finally moving.
At the opening of Aero India on 10 February 2025, Rosoboronexport chief Alexander Mikheev said that an “undisclosed foreign customer” would begin receiving aircraft before the end of the year. He had already confirmed the existence of a contract in late 2024, again without naming the buyer.
One day later, Algerian state media said the Algerian Air Force was preparing to take up to 14 Su-57E fighters, including six expected in 2025. Those reports also claimed Algerian pilots were undergoing training in Russia.
None of these statements amounted to a formal confirmation, and Algeria has maintained public silence. Even so, the country’s long history of operating Russian-built fighters, together with persistent sightings and unverified reporting through 2024, continues to shape external expectations.
Su-57E export model draws attention at Dubai Airshow
Badeha’s remark coincides with the appearance of the Su-57E export model at the Dubai Airshow, one of the few occasions on which the aircraft has been shown outside Russia.
The aircraft has been attracting more attention than in previous years, with regional delegations visiting the display. Having the aircraft participate in the daily flying schedule has further enhanced interest.
Russia is positioning the Su-57E as a long-range multirole option for countries that, for political or financial reasons, sit outside Western procurement networks. The Dubai appearance suggests Moscow is making a renewed push to market the platform.
Russia’s slow Su-57 production programme
The Su-57 began life under the PAK FA programme launched in 1999, intended to produce a modern counterpart to the Su-35 and a successor to the MiG MFI concept. The T-50 prototype flew in 2010, but the path to a production standard was long, slowed by technical setbacks, structural issues and funding constraints.
Early airframes reportedly suffered fatigue cracking even under modest loads, prompting a significant redesign that introduced more composites and revised the wings and tail.
After a 2019 price cut, President Vladimir Putin approved an order for 76 aircraft for the Russian Aerospace Forces to be delivered by 2028. The first aircraft entered service at the end of 2020, though deliveries have progressed more slowly than expected, with a little over 20 believed to be in operational use.
What the Su-57 offers export customers
Russian officials classify the Su-57 as a fifth-generation fighter with all-axis manoeuvrability, internal weapon bays and supercruise potential.
Western assessments have been more cautious, arguing that its low-observability characteristics sit closer to late fourth-generation designs, even while acknowledging the strength of its sensor suite and agility.
For export customers, the Su-57E promises long range, a relatively large internal payload by Russian standards, and compatibility with a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons.
Russia’s confirmation raises new questions on Su-57 deliveries
Badeha’s brief comment confirms only that Su-57s have been delivered outside Russia. The absence of detail leaves the broader picture unchanged: Algeria remains the most widely cited candidate, but no government has publicly claimed the aircraft.
With the Su-57E on open display in Dubai and Moscow signalling readiness to ramp up exports, attention will now turn to whether further airframes appear and whether any state steps forward to acknowledge receipt.
