Russian Su-57 ‘Felon’ fifth-generation stealth aircraft reportedly made a rare stop in Iran while flying back to Russia. Intriguingly, the Felon’s landing in Iran comes as Tehran awaits the delivery of another Russian aircraft: the Su-35 Flanker-E.
The aircraft has a subsonic range of about 3,500 kilometers and a supersonic range of 1,500 kilometers. However, the distance between India and Russia is more than 4,900 kilometers. So, the aircraft is required to make a pit stop for refueling.
Russian fighter jets had previously refueled at the Syrian Khmeimim Air Base, which was operated by the Russian military until it was forced to leave the country following the recent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government. According to some reports, this may have led to the Russian fighter jet’s rare (likely first) touchdown in Iran.
According to reports that the EurAsian Times could not confirm, the aircraft was hosted by the 9th Tactical Fighter Base of the Iranian Air Force in Bandar Abbas. A video of the aircraft taking off from the base has also been published on X and shared extensively.
Notably, this development comes as Iran is awaiting the delivery of the Su-35 Flanker-E fighters.
🇷🇺Su-57 In Iran🇮🇷!
After thrilling at Aero India 2025, Russian 5th-gen Su-57 stealth fighter visited Iran for refueling before heading back to Russia – Iranian Media pic.twitter.com/faXQoFbclP
— EurAsian Times (@THEEURASIATIMES) February 21, 2025
Iran first announced that it had finalized the agreement to buy two dozen Su-35s from Russia in 2023. These cutting-edge fighter jets were originally produced for Egypt, which made a U-turn and called off the purchase at the last minute.
Months after the reports disclosed the deal between Iran and Russia, not even one Su-35 Flanker-E had been delivered to the Iranian Air Force, triggering speculation that the deal may have been called off.
However, these concerns were assuaged recently when a senior Revolutionary Guards commander, Ali Shadmani, told the media that Iran had purchased Russian-made Sukhoi 35 fighter jets—the first such confirmation by a high-ranking official. Without specifying the number of jets purchased or if they have been delivered, Shadmani said, “Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces. The production of military equipment has also accelerated.”
Despite the optimism, the delivery of the aircraft remains elusive, nearly two years after the deal was first disclosed. This is even though Russia delivered the Yak-130 trainer aircraft to the Iranian Air Force, which the Islamic Republic also purchased in 2023.
The Su-35 represents a massive leap in capability for a country that possesses only a few dozen strike aircraft, including archaic Russian jets and aging U.S. F-14 aircraft that it acquired before the Iranian revolution of 1979, as previously explained in-depth by the EurAsian Times.
It is also worth noting that the refueling of the Su-57 in Iran, perhaps for the first time in history, showcases the resilience of ties between Iran and Russia. These ties have deepened further since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Su-57 Hogs The Limelight!
The 15th edition of the ‘Aero India’ airshow, held at the Yelahanka Air Force Base in Bengaluru, kicked off on February 10 and concluded on February 14. The biennial air show, regarded as the biggest aviation exhibition in Asia, was the scene of several historical firsts.
One of the show’s greatest highlights was the debut of the Russian Su-57 Felon at Aero India-2025.
The aircraft, flown by legendary test pilot Sergey Bogdan, stunned the audience at the aero show with its gravity-defying maneuvers and close-circuit stunts mid-air. Several videos of the aircraft, some even captured from the cockpit, show magical aerobatic movements performed by the aircraft in Indian skies for the first time.
The Su-57 also happened to meet its biggest rival in the world—the American F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft. The two aircraft were photographed on the same tarmac for the first time, with military enthusiasts from India quipping that “this could only have happened in India.”
The aircraft has remained in the headlines for almost the entire month. The biggest highlight, however, has been Russia’s Su-57 export offer to New Delhi.
Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport proposed all-around cooperation on the Su-57E project ahead of the airshow. The offer includes the supply of ready-made aircraft, the organization of their joint production in India, and assistance in the development of the Indian fifth-generation fighter. The offer also includes the transfer of technology that would significantly enhance India’s indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities.
In addition, Russia might have found its first customer for Su-57, as Algerian state-run media made some interesting claims which swirled on social media. The announcement followed Russia’s assertion that the aircraft would be delivered to the first foreign buyer. The number of aircraft purchased and other details have not been disclosed.
An official confirmation from Russia or Algeria is awaited.
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