Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport has signed the first contracts to deliver the export version of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet to foreign customers, Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev said at Airshow China in Zhuhai on Wednesday.
“The system of military-technical cooperation should bring new armaments and military hardware to the market. We have already signed the first contracts for the Su-57,” the chief executive told Russian reporters, noting great interest in the fifth-generation fighter that had debuted on the first day of the international airshow in China.
The Rosoboronexport chief also explained the expectations and effect of the demonstration of Russian military hardware at Airshow China in Zhuhai.
“The economic effect is that we have our presence on the market and our partners from friendly countries want to buy Russian reliable and proven armament and, correspondently, to support our industry with export orders so that we can develop further and from generation to generation we used to create new products for the next 10-15 years,” Mikheyev said.
Earlier, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Russia’s state tech corporation Rostec, stated that the Su-57 is the only fifth-generation aircraft globally that has demonstrated its exceptional performance characteristics in all combat scenarios. The fighter also boasts impressive survivability due to its low radar signature and advanced onboard defensive systems.
Rostec highlighted that the Su-57E export modification is a key attraction of Russia’s exposition at Airshow China, emphasizing its ability to deploy advanced precision weapons and its minimal radar signature.
The Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name: Felon) is a Russian-made fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to engage air, ground and naval targets. The Su-57 features stealth technology with extensive use of composite materials, can achieve supersonic cruising speeds and is equipped with cutting-edge onboard electronic systems, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), a radar system spread across its body and other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage.
The Su-57’s AI system assists with some of the pilot’s tasks, including flying the aircraft and preparing weapons for use.
On display near an airfield at Airshow China, the Su-57 export version allows attendees to photograph the aircraft and learn about its operational features.