Algeria becomes first foreign operator of Russian Su-57E fighter jet with delivery in 2025.

As reported by TASS on May 22, 2025, the first confirmed foreign customer of the Russian Su-57E fifth-generation multirole fighter jet will begin operating the aircraft in 2025. While the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) did not disclose the identity of the purchasing country during the MILEX 2025 defense exhibition in Minsk, multiple independent sources, including Algerian state television and statements from Russian officials, confirm that Algeria is the first export client.
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The Su-57E's range without refueling is around 2,800 km, extendable to 5,200 km with one aerial refueling and 7,800 km with two. (Picture source: RussianPlanes/Luming Yu)

Algerian pilots are undergoing training in Russia in preparation for operational use. The initial batch is expected to consist of six units, with deliveries anticipated by the end of 2025. The transaction was previously hinted at by Rosoboronexport at Airshow China 2024 and later reiterated by its director, Alexander Mikheev, during Aero India 2025, who confirmed that a foreign customer would begin operating the aircraft in the current year.

The Su-57E is the export version of the Su-57 developed by Sukhoi within the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), under the Russian PAK FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) program. Its development began in the early 2000s, and its first flight took place on 29 January 2010. Serial production started in 2019 at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant. A state contract signed in 2019 stipulates the delivery of 76 Su-57 fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces by 2028, enough to equip three aviation regiments. The first serial Su-57 was delivered to the Russian military in December 2020. As of the end of 2023, a total of 22 aircraft, including prototypes, had been produced. Modernization efforts continue, including testing of the second-stage engine "Izdeliye 30," with its integration into serial aircraft planned before 2027.

The Su-57E features characteristics associated with fifth-generation fighter aircraft, including low radar visibility, supermaneuverability, and internal weapons carriage. It is designed for multirole use in complex operational environments and can execute missions in air, ground, and naval domains under all-weather conditions. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 35,500 kg and an internal fuel capacity of 11,100 kg. It can reach a maximum speed of approximately 2,600 km/h at altitude, with a practical ceiling of 20,000 meters. Range without refueling is around 2,800 km, extendable to 5,200 km with one aerial refueling and 7,800 km with two. Its maximum flight endurance is about 10 hours. The aircraft can withstand G-loads of up to 11g and is equipped with digital flight control and thrust-vectoring engines for high agility.

The cockpit is single-seat and includes a highly integrated display system, oxygen generation, and a fifth-generation ejection seat developed by NPP Zvezda. The ejection system includes automated adjustment based on pilot weight and flight conditions. The avionics suite comprises the N036 Belka radar system with X-band AESA radar in the nose, side-looking radars, and L-band radars in the wing roots. The radar system is composed of 1,526 T/R modules and developed entirely with Russian-made gallium arsenide semiconductors. The Su-57 is capable of operating in a network-centric warfare environment and is compatible with unmanned systems like the S-70 Okhotnik, with which joint tests have been conducted.

In terms of weaponry, the Su-57E supports up to 7,500 kg of payload distributed across six internal and twelve external hardpoints. Internally, it carries advanced missiles such as the R-77M and R-74M2 for air combat, and precision strike munitions like the Kh-69 and the Grom-E1 for ground targets. It also integrates a 30 mm 9A1-4071K cannon derived from the GSh-30-1. Additional compatible munitions include the Kh-38, Kh-58USHKE, and guided bombs such as the KAB-500, KAB-250, and UPAБ-1500Б-E. The configuration is adaptable based on mission requirements, allowing internal or external carriage depending on the prioritization of stealth.

Algeria’s selection of the Su-57E aligns with its broader defense acquisition strategy, which includes a range of Russian and Soviet-origin platforms, such as the Su-30MKA, MiG-29, MiG-25, and S-300PMU-2 systems. While Algeria has not disclosed the full scope of the contract, open-source reports suggest that the deal includes an initial six aircraft. This acquisition is seen as a step toward enhancing Algeria's regional air combat capabilities. Analysts note that the unit cost of the Su-57E is significantly lower than that of Western fifth-generation fighters, reportedly around $50 million. This pricing, combined with established Russo-Algerian defense ties, supports the aircraft’s selection despite the concerns raised about production quality and stealth efficacy.

International assessments of the Su-57 remain mixed. Analysts suggest that the Su-57 outperforms legacy fourth-generation fighters in terms of stealth but does not reach the same low observability standards as the F-22 or F-35. India withdrew from the FGFA joint development project in 2018, citing insufficient stealth performance and dissatisfaction with Russian radar and avionics. Media have expressed skepticism about the fighter’s maturity, citing continued delays, low production rates, and cost-related constraints. Critics have also questioned the timeline for full integration of the second-stage engine and unmanned teaming capabilities. While the future of the Su-57 in the global fighter market will depend on its demonstrated reliability and combat effectiveness, this transaction provides Russia with an opportunity to validate the platform's export appeal. The outcome of the Su-57E’s service with Algeria may influence future procurement decisions in other regions, particularly among countries seeking lower-cost alternatives to Western fifth-generation platforms.