ANJ, October 7 - In a stunning revelation that has sent shockwaves through the global defense community, a leaked internal document from Russia's state-owned Rostec conglomerate has exposed what could be some of the most ambitious arms export deals in recent memory. Surfacing online in early October 2025 amid heightened geopolitical tensions, the classified pricing table outlines intricate details on fighter jet procurements, including deliveries, avionics packages, and electronic warfare systems, purportedly tied to codes representing Algeria, Iran, and Ethiopia. For enthusiasts tracking Russia's Su-57 exports or Su-35 fighter jet sales, this leak vividly shows Moscow's aggressive push to sustain its beleaguered defense industry despite Western sanctions and the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The document, analyzed by OSINT experts and defense outlets like Defense Blog and Army Recognition, suggests contracts valued in the billions, with timelines stretching from 2024 to 2028, signaling Russia's determination to lock in long-term revenue streams from loyal African and Middle Eastern allies. While Rostec has yet to confirm the authenticity, the specificity, down to Khibiny-M electronic warfare pods and Irbis-E radar integrations, lends credence to whispers of these pacts, potentially reshaping regional airpower dynamics in North Africa and the Horn of Africa.
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Algeria's groundbreaking acquisition of 12 Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighters is at the heart of this exposure, a milestone that positions the North African powerhouse as the inaugural foreign operator of Russia's elusive Felon jet. Coded as "012" in the leak, Algeria's package also encompasses 14 Su-34 Fullback strike bombers, complete with advanced onboard avionics kits priced at around $414 million, slated for phased deliveries through 2026. This aligns seamlessly with earlier confirmations from Algerian state media in February 2025, where officials announced pilot training in Russia and initial handovers by year's end, underscoring Algiers' pivot toward cutting-edge stealth technology to counter Morocco's F-16 fleet and assert dominance in the Maghreb. The Su-57, with its supermaneuverable thrust-vectoring engines, reduced radar cross-section, and hypersonic missile compatibility, represents a quantum leap for the Algerian Air Force, which already boasts a formidable array of Su-30MKAs and MiG-29s. For Russia, exporting the Su-57, plagued by domestic production delays, with only 19 units operational as of mid-2025, validates years of R&D investment and could open floodgates for follow-on sales to nations eyeing fifth-gen capabilities. Yet, the leak hints at supply chain strains, as Moscow juggles export commitments with wartime demands, potentially delaying full integration of these jets into Algeria's desert-camouflaged squadrons.
Shifting focus eastward, Iran's order for 48 Su-35 Flanker-E multirole fighters emerges as the leak's crown jewel, a €6 billion behemoth coded "364" that could dramatically revitalize Tehran's antiquated air arm amid escalating shadow wars with Israel and the U.S. Scheduled for rollout between 2026 and 2028 with a 15% advance payment already secured, the deal bundles 24 L-265M10-02 Khibiny-M electronic warfare suites, enabling the jets to jam enemy radars and evade beyond-visual-range threats like the AIM-120 AMRAAM. This procurement, first rumored in 2023 and partially confirmed by IRGC commanders in January 2025, stems from a quid pro quo: Iran's Shahed drone shipments to Russia for Ukraine in exchange for these 4.5-generation workhorses, which boast Mach 2.25 speeds, 20,000-meter ceilings, and R-37 long-range missiles far surpassing Tehran's aging F-14 Tomcats and F-4 Phantoms. The Su-35 influx would not only deter Israeli F-35 incursions but also project power across the Persian Gulf, challenging Saudi Rafales and UAE F-16s in a theater where air superiority remains elusive. Critics in Washington decry the pact as a deepening of the Russia-Iran axis, potentially fueling proxy conflicts from Yemen to Syria, while Tehran views it as essential deterrence post its 12-day clash with Israel earlier this year.
Rounding out the trio, Ethiopia's understated yet pivotal contract for six Su-35 fighters, coded "231," marks a subtle escalation in the Horn of Africa's aerial arms race, bolstering Addis Ababa's defenses against simmering border disputes with Eritrea and Somalia. Building on 2024 deliveries of Su-30s and ex-Indian Su-30Ks, these jets promise to supercharge the Ethiopian Air Force's 5th Fighter Squadron at Debre Zeit, offering superior dogfighting prowess and precision strikes with Kh-59 missiles. The leak implies advanced negotiation stages, possibly with initial shipments underway, timed to safeguard strategic assets like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam amid Nile Basin frictions. For Russia, this modest deal, amid larger African exports to Algeria and Angola, diversifies revenue while countering U.S. influence via AFRICOM, though Ethiopia's forex woes and CAATSA sanctions pose hurdles. Collectively, these revelations underscore a broader trend: sanctioned powers like Russia leveraging fighter jet diplomacy to forge resilient alliances, as Algeria, Iran, and Ethiopia gear up for an era where air dominance dictates survival. As verification efforts intensify, the defense world braces for ripple effects, from stock surges in Sukhoi suppliers to frantic diplomatic scrambles in Brussels and Foggy Bottom.
