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Russia has announced the first export contracts for its Sukhoi Su-57 Felon fighter jet during Airshow China. However, the country purchasing these jets remains undisclosed. Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Rosoboronexport, Russia's main arms export agency, stated, "We already have signed contracts, the first ones, for the Su-57 aircraft."
The Su-57s currently in service with the Russian Air Force are equipped with older Saturn AL-31 engines instead of the intended stealth-optimized Saturn AL-51 engines. The production numbers of the Su-57 remain low, and they have been used cautiously in Ukraine.
The identity of the buyer is unknown but speculations include countries like Algeria, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. These countries might be potential buyers due to their geopolitical stance or need for modern jets. Algeria is considered a likely candidate as reports from 2020 and 2022 suggested it was interested in purchasing 14 Su-57 Felons.
