Russia Bags First Export Contract for Su-57 Stealth Fighter Jet

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Russia’s Rosoboronexport reported that the first export contracts for the supply of fifth-generation Su-57 stealth fighters have been signed.

"The military-technical cooperation system should bring new models of weapons and military equipment to the market. The Su-57 - by the way, we already have the first contracts signed for this aircraft," said the head of the company, Alexander Mikheyev, in an interview with the Rossiya 1 TV channel (VGTRK) today.

He did not specify the number of aircraft or named the country or countries with whom the contracts have been signed.

There have been rumours that China could be the likely customers considering the fact that Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) brought the the aircraft to Airshow China 2024. The flying displays of the Su-57 have enthralled crowds at the show even more than China’s own aircraft such as the J-20 and J-35.

Yesterday, Dmitry Shugaev, head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation dropped hints of China being a customer for Russia military equipment. He told Interfax-AVN at Airshow China, "China is demonstrating demand for high-tech weapons and military equipment. These are the most modern air defense systems, radar equipment, and combat aircraft."

China has earlier bought Su-35 and Su-30 jets from Russia and uses them despite having its own aircraft such as the J-20, J-15 and J-10. 

Another customer could be Algeria going by unconfirmed reports circulating. Algerian officials have in the past shown great in the Su-57 visiting its manufacturing plants and arms fairs in Russia.