Fifth-generation aircraft are in high demand. Lockheed Martin has received more than 1,000 confirmed orders for its F-35 Lightning II from 19 countries. However, Lockheed’s F-35 orderbook could have been much bulkier if only the US had removed the stringent export restrictions imposed on the cutting-edge aircraft.
For instance, many Gulf countries, from Qatar to Saudi Arabia, and from the UAE to Egypt, have expressed the desire to order F-35s, but the US treaty with Israel to help maintain Tel Aviv’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) means that so far, Washington has refused to export its fifth-generation fighter jets to any other country in the Middle East.
China’s J-35A made its public debut at the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2024. Soon after, Pakistan expressed interest in ordering dozens of J-35As, despite the aircraft not having been combat-tested, a testament to the high demand for stealth jets in the international market.
Similarly, Turkey has won an order for its upcoming fifth-generation combat jet, the KAAN, even before the aircraft has been formally inducted into the Turkish Air Force. Designed and developed by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), KAAN has not even entered serial production.
However, despite serious questions over its performance and stealth capabilities, Ankara has secured an order for 48 KAAN fighter jets from Indonesia, valued at USD 10 billion. It has elicited significant interest from countries such as Pakistan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Apart from the US and China, there is only one other country, Russia, that has an operational fifth-generation aircraft.
However, Russia’s Su-57 Felon is struggling in the international market despite its many advantages over both the Chinese J-35A and the Turkish KAAN.
Su-57 Felon’s Many Advantages Over J-35A, KAAN
Despite the Su-57’s poor export performance in the international market, the Russian fifth-generation aircraft enjoys several crucial advantages over its competitors.
Firstly, the Su-57 has been operational longer than both the J-35A and KAAN. The Su-57 was inducted into service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) on December 15, 2020. In comparison, the J-35A was inducted into the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) only in 2025, and the KAAN has yet to be inducted with the Turkish Air Force.
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The Su-57’s more extended operational history means that Moscow had ample time to gather feedback and improve any deficiencies in the aircraft. The fifth-generation aircraft have advanced avionics and data fusion capabilities.
Secondly, apart from the F-35 and the F-22 Raptor (which is not available for purchase on the international market), the Su-57 Felon is the only fifth-generation aircraft currently available in the market that has undergone combat testing.
The Su-57 has operated in Syria and in the Ukraine War as well. However, it must be noted that in the Ukraine War, Russia has used the Su-57 primarily for firing long-range missiles at standoff ranges from within the Russian airspace.
Furthermore, Russia has been an established player in the international combat jet market for many decades. Apart from the former Soviet Union countries, many other countries, including India, Indonesia, Algeria, and Egypt, have extensive Russian/Soviet fighter jets in their arsenals.
This means that many countries in the global South are already familiar with Russian combat aviation technology and have established Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for Russian combat jets.
For instance, India has license-produced Russian fighter jets, such as the MiG-21 and the Su-30 MKI, in its state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facilities, which can be leveraged for MRO operations for the Su-57 as well.
Turkey, on the other hand, is a new entrant in combat aviation, and China, as well, is a fairly new entrant.
Another critical point is that Turkey itself is dependent on US-made General Electric (GE) engines for its fighter jets. This means that the US can interfere in the production and supply of KAAN fighters.
Apart from jet engines, Turkey is also dependent on foreign OEMs for the supply of critical systems such as ejection seats, AESA radars, and sensors.
Russia, however, is not overtly dependent on foreign-supplied jet components for its fighter jets.
Lastly, fighter jet deals are often also a reflection of geopolitical realignments. Russia, still considered a military superpower, brings a lot to the table.
Not only is Russia a permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), but Moscow can also supply a range of advanced military technologies, from fighter jets to advanced air defense systems, submarines to nuclear reactors.
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The Su-57 is a multi-role fighter jet, capable of performing air superiority missions, ground attacks, reconnaissance missions, and electronic warfare. Russia is also integrating a host of lethal weapon systems on the Su-57 platform. Moscow has already integrated the long-range R-37M missile (with a 300km-400km range) and even hypersonic missiles into the Su-57.
“In accordance with the state defense order, the Aerospace Forces annually receive advanced and modernized weapon systems. The pace of deliveries of fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft is increasing, along with modern aviation strike systems and hypersonic weapons,” Chief of the Main Staff and First Deputy Commander in Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) Lieutenant General Alexander Maksimtsev was quoted as saying by the Russian state news agency TASS earlier this month.
The Su-57 combines stealthy attributes, advanced avionics, and supermaneuverability, reflecting a hybrid philosophy. Its stealth features include faced surfaces that redirect radar out and away from the jet; internal weapon bays; and radar-absorbent materials. There is emphasis on reducing the jet’s frontal radar cross-section, in part by burying the jet’s two engines within the airframe.
However, despite these multifaceted advantages, the Su-57 is still struggling in the export market.
Why Is Su-57 Still Struggling?
Despite overwhelming demand for stealth fighters, Russia has so far received only one international order for its Su-57 aircraft, and that too has not been officially confirmed.
Earlier this year, during the Aero India show in Bangalore, India, Rosoboronexport Chief Alexander Mikheev disclosed that the Su-57 has its first foreign customer.
Later in May 2025, the Russian state-run TASS news agency reported that the first confirmed foreign customer of the Russian Su-57E fifth-generation multirole fighter jet will begin operating the aircraft in 2025. According to multiple reports, the foreign customer is Algeria. The initial order is for six units, with the option to buy eight more units later.
The aircraft, despite its multiple strengths, apparently suffers from two crucial handicaps. It’s low stealth features and Russia’s production limitations due to crippling Western sanctions amidst the Ukraine War.
While the Su-57 has impressive front-aspect stealth, it suffers in overall stealth capabilities, particularly against ground-based radars. According to experts, the Su-57 is no match for the stealth capabilities of US fifth-generation fighters, such as the F-35 and the F-22 Raptor.
The F-35 is widely regarded as having unmatched stealth characteristics, which are critical for modern air combat, where undetected penetration of contested airspace is a game-changer.
Its radar cross-section (RCS) is approximately 0.0015 square meters, making it exceptionally difficult to detect. In contrast, the Su-57’s RCS is estimated at 0.1 to 0.5 square meters, just slightly better than a 4.5-generation fighter jet.
Talking about the F-35’s superior stealth, defense journalist Nisha P Shekhar wrote, “The F-35 is like a ninja, nearly impossible to detect on radar. Its radar cross-section is just 0.0015 square meters — as tiny as a pigeon flying in the sky. The Su-57, while stealthy from the front, has detectable signatures from the sides and rear.”
Former IAF pilot and defense analyst, Vijainder K Thakur writes: “The F-35 features all-aspect stealth, meaning ground-based radars, whether positioned in front, behind, or on the sides, struggle to detect it in time for effective engagement by air defense systems.
“In contrast, the Su-57 has strong front-aspect stealth but significantly lower all-aspect stealth compared to the F-35. When flying head-on, as it would when intercepting an intruding fighter, the Su-57 can approach an F-35 undetected and engage it at close range.”
“However, if the Su-57 were to penetrate contested airspace, it would not be detected at long distances, but it would become visible at shorter ranges, giving enemy radars and air defense systems enough time to engage it.”
According to Indian defense journalist Angad Singh: “The Felon, let’s be real, is probably the least-capable ‘fifth-generation’ fighter out there, and the least mature. Not a good combination. I don’t see the utility in it as a counter to Chinese fifth-generation developments.”
Another critical issue is Russia’s production woes.
The program has been plagued by persistent production challenges, which have intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Western sanctions have crippled access to critical components, while the ongoing war has diverted resources, leaving Russia far behind its production schedules.
As of August 2025, only about 25-32 operational Su-57s exist, a fraction of the planned numbers, highlighting a strategic failure in Moscow’s ability to deliver advanced combat jets while facing stringent Western sanctions.
Earlier this month, the Ukrainian think tank Frontelligence Insight published findings that show that due to sanctions, Russia has been forced to deliver Su-57 fighter jets, which are missing critical parts.
The Russian Defence Ministry formally accepted Su-57s without its 101KS-N, an electro-optical targeting subsystem, it said.
“These practices have left the Su-57 program plagued by inflated costs. More significantly, however, is the evidence that production delays and aircraft delivered in incomplete form were caused by Western sanctions, which deprived the Su-57 of electronic components,” Frontelligence said in its report.
