First export contract for Su-57E has been signed, according to Rosoboronexport 

Since its official entry into service in 2020, the new Russian 5th generation fighter from the aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi, the Su-57E, has been repeatedly announced as being close to signing its first export contract by Rosoboronexport and the Russian authorities. However, until now, none of these announcements have ever come to fruition.

In addition, the outbreak of war in Ukraine has simultaneously increased the pressure on the Russian aeronautics industry and its supply chain, which has been deprived in part of essential Western components, and has increased the vigilance of the United States in applying the CAATSA legislation, which promises the worst American sanctions to anyone who buys major weapons from Russia.

Thus, several potential customers of Russian combat aircraft, such as Egypt and Indonesia, have been discouraged by Washington, to turn to European aircraft. However, while the Su-57 is one of the main attractions of the Zhuhai air show in China, Rosoboronexport has just announced that a first contract has been signed, for the export version of the aircraft, the Su-57E.

Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheev claims to have signed a first contract for the Su-57E export version

Although the Su-57 was eagerly awaited in Zhuhai, as it was the aircraft's first participation in a show outside Russia, it did not particularly impress specialists, at least during the static and missile-in-place phase.

Indeed, journalists present on site were able to notice numerous manufacturing defects on the model sent by Moscow, which is said to be one of the prototypes used during the development phase, defects which could cast doubt on the effectiveness and real stealth of the device.

The first flight demonstrations, however, silenced many of these critics, with the Russian Su-57 performing exceptional aerobatics, particularly at such low altitude, demonstrating the aircraft's super-maneuverability, especially at very low speeds.

It is in this context that Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Rosoboronexport, which is none other than the agency that supervises the exports of Russian defense companies, said during his visit to the Chinese exhibition that The first contract for the Su-57E, the export version of the Su-57, had already been signed, adding that further discussions were underway around the device, which has attracted significant international attention.

The name of the client was kept secret by the Russian authorities, for fear of US CAATSA pressure.

The president of Rosoboronexport did not, however, provide further details regarding the name of the country that signed this first contract, nor, moreover, the nature of this contract, which can in fact cover a large number of subjects, and not necessarily the firm order for a certain number of aircraft.

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