Russia's Su-57 Felon Stealth Fighter Is Now in China
Russia’s Su-57, its fifth-generation stealth fighter, made a notable entry into China, landing at Taiyuan airport for the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. While Moscow may use the airshow to promote the Su-57’s capabilities to potential foreign buyers, it is unlikely China will become a customer, as it focuses on its domestically-produced J-20.
What You Need to Know: Russia’s Su-57, its fifth-generation stealth fighter, made a notable entry into China, landing at Taiyuan airport for the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. While Moscow may use the airshow to promote the Su-57’s capabilities to potential foreign buyers, it is unlikely China will become a customer, as it focuses on its domestically-produced J-20.
-The Su-57E export variant will be showcased in hopes of attracting buyers like Algeria, India, and Turkey, though confirmed deals remain elusive.
-Interestingly, Russia’s absence of the Su-75 Checkmate at this and other recent events suggests its indefinite postponement.
Russia's Su-57 Felon Fighter to Fly at Chinese Airshow
Russia's fifth-generation stealth fighter hasn't been seen over the skies of Ukraine, but the Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name Felon) did cross over Chinese airspace and according to a report from that state-run China Daily, landed at Taiyuan airport on Sunday. The Su-57 is just one of several Russian-made aircraft that are expected to be exhibited at the upcoming 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, which will begin on November 12 outside the city of Zhuhai in the Guangdong province.
The biennial event has become the People's Republic of China's largest international airshow, and in recent years has been used to showcase Beijing's great leap forward in military aviation.
This will be the first time that the Sukhoi Su-57 has been presented at the airshow, as well as the first time the fighter has even landed in China. That fact has led to conjecture that Moscow could grant Beijing a much closer look at the fifth-generation fighter. The Kremlin has sought to find foreign buyers as well as partners for the multirole fighter, and while China and Russia have forged closer ties, it would seem a serious reach to believe that Moscow would look to Beijing as either a customer or even joint producer of the aircraft.
China has a tendency to copy Russian designs, but there is also the fact that Beijing may not want to be tied to Moscow with the aircraft. Though such a deal would enable China to hedge its bets, it is likely still looking to go all in with its domestically-developed Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon.
Is Moscow Desperate on Su-57?
A more likely explanation for the Su-57's presence at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition is to highlight the Su-57's capabilities in a relatively friendly yet still foreign environment.
There has been speculation that the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a subsidiary of the state-owned Rostec military conglomerate, will present a mock-up of the Su-57E, the export variant of the fifth-generation fighter. It was in September that the export model was presented at the inaugural Egypt International Airshow.
Rosoboronexport has continued to court foreign buyers for the Su-57E, but without much interest although Moscow has claimed to have received requests from potential client states including Algeria, India, Malaysia, and Turkey. Sales have remained in stealth mode, as in unseen, although Algeria has been rumored to operate one Su-57.
The Su-57E made its debut at the Aero India Show in Bangalore in 2023, and it reportedly is equipped with Russia's most advanced avionics. Other details surrounding the new prototype remain sparse, and production and sale of these fighters are very unlikely – at least in the near future.
As this is now the second major international airshow to see the Su-57 present, but without any mention of the Su-75 Checkmate, we can assume that aircraft isn't even vaporware anymore. It has simply faded away.
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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