Since its first flight in 2010, Russia has made immense efforts to try to sell the Su-5 fifth-generation fighter internationally, first to India and then to other countries, including Turkey.
So far, these attempts have failed, caught between uncertain performance of the fighter and its reliability and production problems on the Russian side, and above all, in the face of the American CAATSA legislation of 2018, promising all international customers of the Russian defense industry, exemplary sanctions.
This legislation notably derailed Egypt's order for 24 Su-35 fighters, even though some of the aircraft had already been produced by Russian industry, after a photo, published by a Russian journalist now imprisoned, revealed the imminence of the first delivery.
Despite these threats and the potential weight of American sanctions, Moscow confirmed a few weeks ago that a first export contract had been signed, concerning the Su-57, without however giving the name of the customer, precisely to protect it from American and international pressures and threats.
On February 11, the veil was lifted on the identity of this client, Algeria, the order having been directly announced on one of the country's public channels. This announcement is however revealing of a significant change in the CAATSA legislation, Algiers certainly not taking the risk of US sanctions, such as potentially being deprived of transactions in $, concerning its hydrocarbon exports.
Summary
Algeria confirms order for unspecified number of Russian 57th generation Su-5 fighters
It was in mid-November 2024 that Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Rosoboronexport, announced thata first export contract had been signed regarding the fifth-generation fighter Su-5, named Felon by NATO.
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