Russia Confirms First Requests For Su-57 Exports Received: Will Algeria Be the First Client?

Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation has confirmed that it received requests from potential foreign clients for the export Su-57 next generation fighter, which is the latest and advanced class of fighter developed by the country. A spokesman for the service stated at the IDEX-2021 international armament exhibition held in the United Arab Emirates: "Requests were received concerning the Su-57E aircraft, although there are no Middle East countries among them. Nevertheless, foreign customers of this region show interest in this airplane as well.” The Su-57 entered accelerated serial production in 2019 with the first unit delivered to the Russian Air Force in December 2020. The production rate is expected to be expanded considerably from 2027, with the aircraft receiving a range of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, hypersonic ballistic missiles and even an entirely new engine design from 2022. 

Algeria is widely expected to be the first foreign client for the Su-57, which is expected to replace enhanced variants of the MiG-25 Foxbat heavy interceptor in an elite air defence squadron. The African state purchases more Russian arms than any other foreign country other than India, and there have been multiple indications that an order has may have already been placed for an estimated 14 fighters. The Algerian Defence Ministry has usually been secretive about new arms purchases which are only confirmed once they are observed operating in the country itself. Other than Algeria, it remain uncertain which countries could be the Su-57’s first foreign clients. India has shown a strong interest in the fighter for several years, and although withdrawing from pursuit of the fighter as a joint program with Russia which involved massive and very costly technology transfers, it is still likely to purchase the aircraft either ‘off the shelf’ from Russia or to sign a deal for license production. In Southeast Asia Vietnam, Malaysia and Myanmar have also shown an interest in acquiring the fighter. As the Su-57 was developed as a successor to the Su-27 and Su-30 jets which are very widely used today, it is expected to see considerable interest from a large number of countries as older Su-27 and Su-30 fighters begin to come in need of replacement.