Warum kauft eigentlich niemand die russische Su-57?
Video from the channel Die Militär-Show about Sukhoi Su-57, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 20:42. Language: German. Video type: News.
What's being reported
The video, in German, examines why the Sukhoi Su-57 has barely found buyers abroad. It starts from Russian expectations of turning it into a fifth-generation fighter capable of competing commercially with the F-35 and reviews press reports published up to early September 2025. According to the figures it cites, Russia had 44 units and planned to reach 76. The only announced foreign customer is Algeria, which reportedly confirmed the purchase in February: six initial aircraft and an option for eight more. Even so, several outlets note that there are no official documents confirming it and that the country itself has barely made the deal public.
Context
The comparison with the F-35 focuses on production and sales: more than 1,230 units delivered to 20 countries, against far lower Russian production, with the Su-57 in service since 2020. The video recalls that India took part in development until April 2018, when it withdrew from the programme over cost, design and engines. In 2025 it was mentioned again as a potential buyer, but later leaned toward other options, such as the Rafale M. According to one report, India would demand that the N036 radar be replaced with domestically made components. Among the technical weaknesses cited are an estimated radar cross-section of between 0.1 and 0.5 m², far higher than the figure attributed to the F-35, and use in Ukraine limited to missile launches from a distance.
What it means
The analysis attributes the commercial failure to customer distrust, limited combat record and Western sanctions, which make it difficult to legally purchase electronic components and delay production. It adds that China, with the J-35A unveiled in November 2024, and India, with its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme, are developing their own fighters, reducing the potential market. The piece has a markedly critical tone and relies more on press sources than on official data.