The Russian Su-57 fighter jet, which is referred to as a fifth-generation aircraft only in Russia, is set to enhance its first foreign customer by 2025. This statement was made by the head of "Rosoboronexport," Alexander Mikheev, to Russian state media during the Aero India 2025 exhibition, where the Russians brought their Su-57 despite a disgraceful failure in China.
The country that has dared to order the Russian aircraft from "Rosoboronexport" has not yet been disclosed, and it is worth reminding that the first mention of a foreign order for the Su-57 was made in Moscow in November 2024. At that time, Mikheev claimed not just one order but the existence of signed "contracts." However, "Rosoboronexport" often confuses firm agreements with memoranda, leading to skepticism regarding that statement.
Nevertheless, the promise to deliver the first aircraft by 2025 is a fairly specific assertion regarding the existence of a solid contract. Therefore, the silence concerning the buyer is even more surprising, not only from the Russian side but also from the country that has taken this step.
It is important to note that the list of potential clients is actually quite narrow. Frequently mentioned among the possibilities is Algeria, which operates Russian fighter jets, air defense systems, tanks, and even the Iskander OTRK, which was hidden for 10 years. Discussions about Algeria wanting to purchase the Su-57 began back in 2020, initially suggesting 14 units, but no confirmations have been found to date.
Other potential clients include Iran, although it seemingly settled on the Su-35. Additionally, North Korea is a candidate, especially given Kim Jong Un's personal visit to the factory where he inspected the Su-57. Furthermore, the buyer would need to overlook the fact that servicing the Su-57 could become a significant challenge, and its actual performance may be quite questionable.
In any case, an actual purchase of the Russian Su-57 means that the buyer will face U.S. sanctions under the CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). However, there are several existing examples where purchasing Russian weapons did not trigger these sanctions. For instance, Saudi Arabia is acquiring the Pantsir air defense system from Russia, and India has just recently contracted for the 3M54 Kalibr anti-ship missiles.