Algeria: first export customer for the Su-57 Felon?

Russia has announced the first contracts for the Su-57E Felon, the export variant of its fifth-generation fighter developed by Sukhoi. The news was made public by Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-owned arms export agency, during the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition at Zhuhai.

Although the identity of the buyer has not been revealed, rumours are indicating that Algeria will be the first export customer.

The number of aircraft involved is not known yet, but in 2019 during the visit of an Algerian military delegation to the Moscow International Aviation and Space Show (MAKS, Mezhdunarodnyj aviatsionno-kosmicheskij salon), it was reported that they will acquire fourteen aircraft.

Earlier, Scramble Magazine wrote about a possible sale of the Su-57 to Algeria. In September 2020, Algeria was named as the first export customer and in November 2020 it was reported that a contract had been signed.

Credit photo: China Military (eng.chinamil.com.cn)