Su-57 Fighter Now “Operationally Deployed” By 1st Export Customer, Russia Says As Sukhoi Jet Amazes Dubai Crowds

By
Sakshi Tiwari
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The Russian Su-57E stealth combat aircraft has now been operationally deployed by its first buyer. Interestingly, the development coincides with the Su-57E’s participation in the Dubai Air Show, where Russia is aggressively marketing the aircraft to other potential buyers.

Vadim Badekha, the Director General of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which manufactures the Su-57, announced on Channel One that Russia has delivered two Su-57E stealth aircraft to a foreign client.

“Our foreign customer, our foreign partner, has already received the first two aircraft. They have begun to carry out combat duty and demonstrate their best qualities. Our customer is satisfied,” Badeja said.

The UAC chief stopped short of naming the foreign customer, but it is widely believed that Algeria is the first and only buyer of the Su-57E so far.

For example, in February 2025, Algerian state television reported that the Algerian Air Force would receive its first Su-57 stealth fighters by the end of the year, adding that Algerian pilots were already undergoing training in Russia.

More recently, in October 2025, leaked Rostec documents published by the hacker group “Black Mirror” confirmed that Algeria had signed a contract for 12 Su-57 fifth-generation fighters and 14 Su-34 fighter-bombers (most likely the export Su-34ME variant).

Neither Algeria nor the Russian state arms exporter Rosobornexport has officially acknowledged the purchase of the cutting-edge Russian “stealth” fighter.

Nonetheless, Algeria has now likely become the first country to buy and deploy a fifth-generation stealth aircraft that is not an American F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Earlier this year, Russia sweetened the Su-57E export offer to India by promising joint production, upgrades to the Su-30MKI, and support for India’s own fifth-generation aircraft, the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft).

However, the IAF’s proposal to buy 114 Rafales earlier this year may have caused a setback, if not punctured, the potential Su-57 deal.

While Algeria’s purchase does not radically change the Su-57E’s position in the export market, it should come as an impetus for Russia’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter that has faced a rocky path since its prototype debut in 2010, including production delays, limited domestic orders, and the collapse of a major joint venture with India in 2018 that sought to produce the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).

In what could be a strategically planned move, the delivery announcement was made just as the Su-57E made its aerial debut at the Dubai Air Show 2025.

Su-57E At The Dubai Air Show

The Su-57 made its Middle Eastern aerial debut at the Dubai Airshow 2025 on November 17. The aircraft was piloted by distinguished test pilot and Hero of Russia Sergey Bogdan, who performed various aerobatic maneuvers on the maiden flight in the Dubai skies. 

The fighter jet was met with cheers and chants of “Go, Russia!” as it returned to the runway, Russian state news agency TASS reported. 

This is the third international aerial display for the Su-57E in a year. Before this, the Su-57E piloted by Sergey Bogdan conducted scintillating aerobatic manoeuvres at the China Air Show 2024 and Aero India 2025.

According to state media reports, the primary highlight of the aerial display was the aircraft’s supermaneuverability. Speaking to reporters at the Dubai Air Show, Sergey Bogdan asserted the aircraft remains fully controllable even during critical flight regimes.

“Our aerobatics program is centered on showcasing super-maneuverability. The Su-57 is equipped with two engines featuring controlled thrust vectoring, enabling it to execute maneuvers at near-zero speeds, extreme angles of attack, and spins. These capabilities can provide a significant edge in aerial combat,” he stated.

Sergey further explained that the aircraft’s ability to maintain control in any mode remains a critical advantage despite the evolving nature of modern aerial tactics. “This feature is vital for pilots because it allows them to operate without distraction, focusing on mission objectives rather than flight stability concerns,” he noted.

Image
Su-57E in flight at the Dubai Air Show (Via X/Deino)

He emphasised the significance of this capability for pilot safety and aircraft performance, saying, “In conventional fighters or bombers, pilots must constantly monitor flight parameters to avoid losing control. The Su-57, however, ensures it never does.”

Notably, the Su-57E once again met its American rival, the F-35 Lightning II, at the Dubai Air Show. The Russian aircraft took to the sky approximately ninety minutes after the F-35, which performed an eight-minute flight demonstration over Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport on November 17.

This is the second time the two fighter jets have flown one after the other—the first at the Yelahanka Air Base in Bengaluru, India, during the Aero India show in February 2025.

Another Big Export Push 

As the Dubai Air Show kicked off, the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Director, Dmitry Shugayev, told TASS that negotiations to supply Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets are planned with several foreign partners during the four-day event. 

Russia has made concerted efforts to boost the aircraft’s export potential.

One, the UAC published a promotional video of the Su-57E with its internal weapons bay open in flight. The footage provided the first-ever view of the main weapons bay opening during the flight, with a pair of Kh-58UShK anti-radiation missiles clearly visible.

The UAC video showcased the Su-57’s outstanding capacity to accommodate heavier internal weaponry, released right before the Dubai Air Show.

Su-57E with its weapons bay exposed in flight (Via X)

Second, to make the Su-57E more attractive to potential buyers, Russia is reportedly showcasing a potential stealth upgrade for the Su-57’s radar-exposed engine nozzles.

In 2010, the Su-57 made its debut with two AL-41F turbofan engines and non-stealthy, axi-symmetric nozzles. This configuration remained unchanged even as the aircraft entered service in 2020. However, Russian manufacturers have been attempting to modernize the propulsion system.

Now, a model of the Su-57E export version, which is on static display in the Russian pavilion at the Dubai Air Show, showcases the improved nozzle design. The nozzle’s front and rear are now seen to be connected longitudinally by a three-panel telescopic mechanism. Moreover, two triangular side panels support the nozzle function.

Third, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Denis Manturov, said the Su-57’s artificial intelligence technologies have become an essential part of the fighter jet’s operational capabilities, particularly in the ongoing campaign against Ukraine. 

“I inquired once again today with our Su-57 chief pilot about the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in pilot operations. Given that we’re discussing a fifth-generation aircraft – one of the most advanced fighter jets worldwide – the aircraft has already demonstrated its combat prowess and actively participates in the current military campaign. Artificial intelligence is, without question, now an integral part of its operational framework,” Manturov stated.

He further explained that AI technology enables simultaneous control of the aircraft and its weapons systems and greatly speeds up pilots’ decision-making. “Artificial intelligence is actively integrated into the exhibition alongside the pilot,” Manturov added. Earlier, some Russian officials had stated that the Su-57 was being integrated with sixth-generation technologies, potentially to boost its export potential. 

Experts believe that, despite its struggles, the Su-57 could have become popular in the export market had it done well in Ukraine and accrued some valuable combat experience. The Su-57 has only been deployed for air defense patrols and launching stand-off attacks on Ukraine from the safety of the Russian airspace.

 

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