Kremlin showcases Su-57 again as it seeks new buyers

Russia is attempting to renew interest in foreign orders for its Su-57 fighter aircraft, releasing new promotional material showing the jet’s internal weapons bays and air-to-air missiles ahead of the Dubai Airshow 2025.

The video was published by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), part of the Rostec state defense conglomerate, and highlights the Su-57 Felon’s concealed weapons carriage, a feature associated with aircraft built using reduced-detectability shaping.

Rostec has stated that new Su-57s are entering service and that upgraded versions will receive updated weapons systems and engines.

The internal weapons bay layout shown in the footage reflects the design approach used in other fifth-generation fighters, where missiles and precision weapons are carried inside the fuselage to reduce radar signature. The promotional video places emphasis on this feature, presenting the aircraft performing maneuvers with weapon bay doors partially open and missiles visible.

The message surrounding the video ties directly to Russia’s broader efforts to position the Su-57 as a competitive export platform. Public statements from Rostec have continued to describe the jet as entering wider service and undergoing staged modernization. The company said the aircraft will receive “updated systems of armament and engines,” though it did not provide timelines for those changes.

Alongside the release of the promotional video, new information has circulated online regarding potential export plans for the Su-57. A recently leaked document, described as coming from Russian state defense conglomerate Rostec, appears to outline pricing, delivery schedules and export planning for advanced Sukhoi fighter aircraft intended for several foreign clients. The document lists Iran, Algeria and Ethiopia among countries referenced.

The material was published online on October 3 by the hacker collective known as Black Mirror, which claims to have accessed more than 300 internal documents from Rostec’s systems. According to the group, the tranche includes correspondence, presentations and export contracts describing defense cooperation plans, logistical arrangements designed to bypass sanctions and technical documentation related to deliveries.

The authenticity of the leaked material has not been independently verified. However, analysts noted that the contents align closely with previous reporting about negotiations involving Moscow and several foreign defense ministries. The files also appear to match earlier reports that Russia has continued pursuing export clients for advanced combat aircraft even as its domestic industry faces pressure from ongoing war requirements. The documents reference schedules, internal memos and coordination across agencies traditionally responsible for state export planning.

Both the promotional video and the alleged export documents highlight Russia’s attempt to maintain the Su-57 program as a flagship of its aerospace industry. While the jet has been promoted as a fifth-generation platform, its production numbers and deployment scale remain limited, and the aircraft has not yet appeared in large operational formations. Russia has repeatedly emphasized that new aircraft are entering service and that further modernization is underway.