CEO of Russia’s arms export conglomerate Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheev has claimed that the Su-57 and Su-35 fighters have continued to obtain appreciable curiosity amongst potential purchasers. This assertion carefully coincided with the discharge of the primary footage exhibiting the Su-57 in service with a overseas operator, particularly the Algerian Air Power, after the brand new fifth technology plane was confirmed in November 2024 to have been introduced into service. Mikheev noticed:
“Our companions have an interest within the newest high-tech fashions that meet the newest international market traits. Naturally, the best curiosity is generated by merchandise which have been examined in fight circumstances. Leaders of their segments embody the Su-57E and Su-35 fighter jets, which have gained fight expertise, the Ka-52E fight reconnaissance and assault helicopter, the T-90MS tank, the Sarma and Twister MLRS, the TOS-1A and TOS-2 Tosochka heavy flamethrower techniques, the Tigr and Storm armoured autos, [and] the S-400.”
Mikheev added that the Viking, Tor, Pantsir, Verba and Igla-S air defence techniques have additionally gained appreciable curiosity from potential purchasers.
Exports of Su-35 fighters have been credited with permitting the Russian defence sector to reverse the development that started in 2022 in direction of a yearly decline in exports, with three new overseas purchasers for the plane having bee confirmed that 12 months. In February 2025 Russia started sudden deliveries of the Su-35 to Algeria, which is estimated to have procured 18 of the fighters beneath a deal valued at roughly $1.5 billion. Leaked Russian authorities paperwork subsequently confirmed that 48 Su-35 fighters had been ordered to equip the Iranian Air Power, and 6 extra for the Ethiopian Air Power. This has marked a serious breakthrough for this system, and introduced complete exports to 96 fighters, up from simply 24 earlier than the start of the 12 months.
The way forward for the Su-35 program past gross sales to its 4 current purchasers stays unsure, and whereas the plane capabilities have proceed to be improved, potential purchasers have persistently been threatened with Western financial sanctions and different types of stress. Each Indonesia and Egypt cancelled plans to obtain Su-35s attributable to such threats, regardless of each already having signed contracts to take action. Each Ethiopia and Iran are thought-about possible potential purchasers for additional Su-35s, though Algeria is predicted to focus funding on Su-57 procurements and on potential modernisation of its Su-30MKA fleet. A possible main breakthrough for the Russian fighter aviation business might come from a Su-57 export deal to India, with talks concerning a license manufacturing deal for not less than 140 plane not too long ago confirmed to have reached superior technical levels. The Indian Defence Ministry is reportedly contemplating the joint improvement of a closely customised variant to fulfill its necessities.
Talking on the Innoprom exhibition in Saudi Arabia, Russian Trade and Commerce Minister Anton Alikhanov not too long ago introduced that contracts have already been signed within the Center East area for the export of the Su-57, fuelling hypothesis that Iran would be the consumer in query. Whereas threats of Western sanctions and different types of stress have confirmed able to considerably constraining the market share of Russian fighter plane, rising numbers of nations have succeeded in ‘sanctions proofing’ their economies, with Indonesia being a number one instance, which may doubtlessly widen the pool of potential purchasers. The Su-57 has gained curiosity from a major variety of potential purchasers, with Vietnam, Kazakhstan and North Korea thought-about among the many probably patrons. Russia’s imports of tens of billions of {dollars}’ price of North Korean armaments has fuelled hypothesis that the fighters could also be supplied to cowl the prices of a few of these imports, whereas on the identical time strengthens the air defences of a key strategic companion.
