Did Russia Receive New Su-57 Stealth Fighter Export Contracts?

Russia’s arms conglomerate Rostec has hinted at “several” countries that had “already contracted for the Russian fighter” in a press release ahead of a Malaysian arms expo. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied A Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft flies during the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, in southern China's Guangdong province on November 14, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Russia claimed to have signed contracts with “several” countries to export its Su-57E stealth fighters – with Algeria being the only nation so far confirmed by observers. On Tuesday, Russia’s state-owned arms conglomerate Rostec issued a press release ahead of the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition 2026, where it said the Su-57E fighters would be the company’s “key exhibit” at the event between April 20-23. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The company then said “several” countries had contracted the plane and claimed there’s a “steadily expanding” list of customers for the jet, without naming any. “The Su-57E is generating considerable interest among Rosoboronexport’s partners, several of whom have already contracted for the Russian fighter. The list of customers for this aircraft is steadily expanding,” the press release says. The Su-57 – currently operated only by Russia officially – is a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter designed for air-superiority and strike missions, with its export variant, the Su-57E, likely aimed at competing with the US F-35 and China’s J-20 stealth fighters. In an apparent sales pitch, Rostec also hinted at the possibility of integrating the jet with Malaysia’s existing air fleet. “The aircraft is an excellent option for modernizing and developing the Royal Malaysian Air Force, considering its unification with the existing Su-30MKM fleet in a number of systems and weapons,” Rostec wrote. Other Topics of Interest Drones Hit Tuapse Refinery, Energy Sites in Russia, Officials Say Drone strikes hit a refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region and energy infrastructure in Belgorod, with casualties and power outages reported. Russia previously unveiled the Su-57E at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, with the number “509” visible on the showcase unit. Observers believe Algeria has been the only country to have received the jets, with India, Malaysia and Indonesia among the potential, unnamed buyers. During Dubai Airshow 2025, CEO Vadim Badeha of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the jet’s manufacturer, said the company delivered two Su-57Es to an unnamed international buyer, according to RuAviation . Defense outlet Militarnyi said the unnamed country is likely North Africa’s Algeria, noting that negotiations likely began in 2019, with the jet detected in Algerian airspace between late 2025 and early 2026. It then named India, Malaysia and Indonesia as potential buyers, noting that the latter two operate the Su-30 family of fighter jets, which share some compatible weaponry with the Su-57s. India previously participated in the Su-57’s development but withdrew in 2018 due to the jet’s unsatisfactory performance. But in December 2025, Russia reportedly planned to offer the Su-57 under a manufacturing-and-technology-transfer arrangement rather than a straightforward purchase at the India-Russia summit. In November, defense outlet Army Recognition noted that while the Su-57 offers better kinetic performance than the F-35, it falls behind the US’s modern avionics and “software maturity.” The US also tightly restricts exports of its advanced war technology, removing Turkey from the program over national security concerns after Ankara decided to acquire Russia’s S-400 air defense systems. The outlet wrote that the Su-57 can be appealing to buyers seeking standalone alternatives that do not entail heavy dependence on the US, with Moscow offering the jet’s “full sovereign use rights, customizable avionics suite, and lack of weapons integration limitations.” The precise number of Su-57s operated by Russia remains unclear. While Moscow placed an order for 76 Su-57 to be delivered by 2027, confirmed deliveries remain below three dozen. Western sanctions have also likely complicated the logistics of obtaining the parts needed for the jets’ modern avionics, with a recent fire at a key Sukhoi production plant in Siberia’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur further casting doubt on Russia’s ability to sustain the jet’s production. Leo Chiu is a journalist and editor based in Eastern Europe since 2015. He has witnessed two presidential elections in Belarus and traveled widely to conflict zones and contested regions, producing reporting that bridges the gap between major developments and local realities.