In a move that sent ripples through the halls of the Dubai Airshow on November 17, 2025, Russia dramatically pulled the covers off the Su-57E — the long-awaited export version of its only operational fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon. For the first time ever outside Russia, the sleek, angular jet sat on static display at Al Maktoum International Airport wearing a desert camouflage scheme and the “E” suffix that instantly tells the world: this bird is for sale.
The unveiling wasn’t subtle. Rosoboronexport rolled the aircraft out under floodlights late Sunday evening, flanked by scale models of the new Izdeliye 30 engines, Kh-69 stealth cruise missiles, and even a mock-up of the rumored two-seat Su-57 variant. Russian officials wasted no time declaring that the Su-57E is fully ready for export customers, with “de-rated but still fifth-generation” performance and a price tag that reportedly starts south of $100 million per copy — aggressively undercutting the F-35.
After years of rumors, grainy photos from Zhukovsky, and endless speculation about when (or if) the world would ever see a Felon anyone could actually buy, the Su-57E’s arrival in Dubai feels like the moment the dam finally broke.
What exactly did Russia show the world?
The aircraft on display, Bort 057 Blue, is one of the latest production-standard Su-57s fitted with the interim AL-41F1 engines but already wired and plumbed for the new Izdeliye 30 (Type 30) second-stage powerplants that promise true supercruise and a massive leap in thrust-to-weight ratio. Deliveries with the new engine are promised from 2027 onward, though customers who sign now can apparently secure early slots with the older engines and a free upgrade later — a page straight out of the Su-35 playbook.
Stealth is still the headline feature. The Su-57E keeps the Felon’s trademark serrated edges, internal weapons bays for six R-77-1 or K-74M2 missiles, and the distinctive “smart skin” radar-absorbing coating. Russian engineers claim the frontal RCS is now below 0.1 m² with the new engine inlets and upgraded coatings — numbers that would put it in the same league as the F-22 when viewed head-on.
Avionics are another big selling point. The jet sports the upgraded N036 Byelka AESA radar suite with five arrays (nose plus cheek, wing leading-edge, and tail-mounted), plus the 101KS Atoll electro-optical system that includes the famous ball-shaped IRST capable of detecting an F-35-class target at over 150 km in the frontal sector. Add the L402 Himalayas ECM suite and wideband datalinks, and Russia is pitching the Su-57E as the most heavily electronically armed fighter on the export market.
Weapons options on display were deliberately eye-catching: Kh-59MK2 stealth cruise missile, Grom-E1/E2 glide bombs, the new Kh-69 low-observable cruise missile with a 290 km range, and even the hypersonic Kinzhal look-alike that had Middle Eastern delegations whispering in the chalet line.
Who is this jet actually for?
Industry sources say Algeria has already signed for 14 aircraft in a deal believed to be worth $1.8–2 billion, with deliveries starting in 2026–2027. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and even India (as a possible “insurance policy” against further F-35 delays) were spotted spending serious time around the jet. Egypt and Vietnam have reportedly requested detailed briefings, while one unconfirmed rumor swirls that an unidentified customer has already placed a letter of intent for 24 airframes with the full Izdeliye 30 package.
The timing is no accident. With the F-35 facing fresh export restrictions after the latest U.S. policy shifts and China’s J-20 still firmly off the export menu, Russia is betting that a growing number of countries want fifth-generation capability without the political baggage of Lockheed Martin’s jet. The Su-57E pitch is simple: no end-use monitoring, no CAATSA sanctions risk for the buyer (Russia can’t sanction itself), full transfer of maintenance know-how, and the ability to integrate whatever weapons the customer wants down the road.
Of course, skeptics were quick to point out the program’s troubled past — only about 20 production Su-57s are in Russian service today, and the Izdeliye 30 engine has been “two years away” for the better part of a decade. Yet the jet in Dubai looked undeniably real, flew in the day before the show (performing a hair-raising low pass that rattled windows at the nearby hotels), and carried the kind of polished finish you only see on production-standard machines.
Whether the Su-57E becomes Russia’s Su-35-style export success story or remains a niche offering for a handful of close partners, one thing is certain: the fifth-generation export market just got a lot more interesting.
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