Russia secures first foreign contracts for Su‑57 jets
Russia has signed its first contracts to supply the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet to foreign clients, announced the president of the state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev. However, it is not yet known which country has decided to purchase the Russian fighter jet or in what numbers.
The Russian economy, hit by sanctions following the Kremlin's military actions in Ukraine, is grappling with numerous challenges. The loss of access to Western markets and technology has pushed Moscow to explore new markets.
In November, Russians claimed a technological accomplishment the Kremlin hadn't achieved in years. The head of Rosoboronexport, who participated in the Airshow China in Zhuhai, revealed that Russia signed its first contracts for the Su-57. He highlighted that the fighter jet attracted significant interest at the event.
Russians announce success, call it "unique in the world"
"The economic effect is that we have our presence on the market and our partners from friendly countries want to buy Russian reliable and proven armament [...] so that we can develop further and from generation to generation we used to create new products for the next 10-15 years," said Mikheev, as quoted by TASS.
Sergey Chemezov, general director of the Russian state defense corporation Rostec, stated that it is the "only fifth-generation fighter" in the world that has proven effective against modern Western air defense systems, including Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T.
Su-57: potential countries interested in buying Russian fighters
The Su-57, known by the NATO code name "Felon," is a Russian fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to engage targets in the air, at sea, and on land. It can reach twice the speed of sound (approximately 1,550 mph). The Russians take pride in its stealth features, among other capabilities. The approximately 66-foot-long aircraft can reach an altitude of 66,000 feet. The Su-57 was initially intended to rival the American F-22 Raptor.
The portal Obronna.pl speculates that Moscow's potential clients might include Iran, Turkey, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, or North Korea. "There was also speculation that China might be interested in the Su-57, but they have their own fifth-generation fighters, the J-20 'Mighty Dragon' and the recently unveiled J-35A, making a contract less likely," according to the report.
