U.A.E. Interested in Russian Su-57 Fighter?

The United Arab Emirates could shift its attention toward Russia’s Su-57 fighter as its bid to acquire the F-35 from the U.S. remains unresolved.

At the Dubai Airshow, Russia thrust the Su-57 into focus with its first Middle East flying debut. President of the U.A.E., Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, examined the jet at the show. The U.A.E. Air Force commander also sat in the cockpit, hinting at Emirati interest in the Su-57.

Sukhoi chief test pilot Sergey Bogdan delivered a sharp, high-energy routine in the Su-57E, demonstrating its super-maneuverability and combat profile. For the first time in a public display, the jet opened its internal weapons bay, showing mock-ups of the Kh-58 anti-radiation missile and the R-74M2 air-to-air missile. The show model also featured new 2D thrust-vectoring flat nozzles for the AL-51F-1 engine, developed to reduce radar and infrared signatures.

“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,” Bogdan was quoted as saying by state news agency TASS.

The renewed interest comes as Russia signals readiness to move forward with an export variant of its fifth-generation aircraft. “Russian industry is ready to produce these aircraft (Su-57E) under export contracts and supply them to foreign customers; this has already been proven,” Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev said. Russian officials have also indicated that their offer to the customers includes possible technology transfer, local assembly, and no restrictions on weapon use.

Also at the show, Vadim Bedekha, director general of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), said Russia has delivered two Su-57E aircraft to a foreign client. He did not name the country, but the buyer is widely believed to be Algeria. In February 2025, Algerian state television reported that the Air Force would receive its first Su-57 fighters by the end of the year and that Algerian pilots were already training in Russia.

The reported U.A.E. interest in the Sukhoi jet follows a recent clarification by the U.S. government that it is not engaged in active talks with the U.A.E. about the F-35. This contrasts with earlier indications of progress on the deal. The U.A.E. had signed an agreement to purchase the aircraft in the final days of the Trump administration, but the following Biden administration froze the process over concerns related to Chinese technology embedded in the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.

For the U.A.E., the delay has strengthened the appeal of alternative fifth-generation options, including the Russian Su-57, as the country continues to seek a long-term solution for its airpower modernization plans.