Amid the statement by the Russian primary aircraft manufacturer that it had delivered two Su-57 fighters to a foreign buyer for the first time, speculations are rife about who the secret customer could be. Though Vadim Badekha, the CEO of United Aircraft Corporation, said "foreign partner" had received the aircraft and was satisfied, he did not mention who the buyer was, triggering speculations that it could be India.
Su-57E, which Russia pitches as an alternative to the US F-35 and Chinese J-20, was earlier showcased in India as well.
But the latest rumours are that the customer could well be Iran, considering how the Islamic Republic is striving to modernise its programmes. These efforts have included upgrading avionics, installing new radar systems, and integrating modern weaponry.
Weeks earlier, videos had gone viral showing Iranian pilots undergoing formal and supplementary training in Russia on the Su-57. They were seen joking about the F-4 Phantom fighter jets, acquired before the 1979 revolution, before the Iranian revolution. Iran still operates over 60 F-4s, making it the largest Phantom operator in the world.
In February, a Russian Su-57 Felon fighter was spotted in an Iranian base. The fighter jets touched down in Iran on their way back home from the Aero India 2025 international airshow. This was also the first known instance of one of the new-generation Russian jets stopping in Iran for any reason. Satellite imagery showed the jet was at the Iranian airbase in Bandar Abbas for multiple days. No reason was given for the stopover.
However, leaked documents claim that though Iran has expressed interest in the Su-57, Tehran has its hands full with the acquisition of 48 Su-35 fighters that preceded the Su-57’s development.
That said, the most probable buyer is Algeria, as the country’s state media on February 12 confirmed for the first time that it has become the first client for the Su-57 fifth generation fighter, revealing that Algerian pilots were currently undergoing training in Russia. The deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to begin later in the year, it said.