russia conducted Su-57E fighter demonstration for Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, which he reported on his Facebook page — event occurred May 8 at Zhukovsky International Airport near Moscow. Aircraft was piloted by test pilot Sergey Bogdan, flight lasted about seven minutes.
Post emphasizes russian fighter radar station capabilities as well as its multi-role operational capabilities. However, as of today, Malaysia's plans to purchase russian fighters have not been officially reported.
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Previously specifically russia was key combat aviation supplier for Malaysian Air Force. Today specifically 18 Su-30MKMs comprise its combat aircraft fleet backbone, part of which however are in non-operational state.
Moreover, several years ago country complained that due to sanctions they cannot purchase necessary spare parts for servicing their Su-30MKMs, but already in 2025 stated they managed to repair these fighters themselves. So not excluded russia could help them in this through some bypass routes, although there is also variant that Malaysia received assistance from India.
Recent events hint that Su-57E is at least one candidate for replacing russian Su-30MKMs themselves in Malaysian Air Force — at least Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar's Moscow visit occurred several weeks after russia demonstrated this fighter at Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2026 exhibition, which ran April 20-23 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital. During this exhibition, by the way, Rosoboronexport announced new Su-57E fighter contracts availability.
For russia, new Su-57 fighter export contract is quite important, as today only foreign buyer of this aircraft is Algeria, which kept this deal secret (although ultimately Su-57 presence in Algeria was nevertheless disclosed) due to U.S. sanctions risks, which although not critical for this country will still create certain difficulties.
However, Algeria apparently quite consciously took this step. Moreover, besides 12 Su-57E aircraft, it ordered 14 more Su-34 aircraft, while last year at least one Su-35 delivery was recorded.
Country already has certain benefits from such decision in history, when due to U.S.-iran war Morocco cannot receive Mirage 2000-9s from UAE, while Algeria is already transitioning to new fighters.
However, if Algeria concluded contracts secretly and until last did not want to shine fact it is purchasing new russian fighters, Malaysia now apparently quite clearly hints that it at minimum considers variant with russian Su-57s. Consequently — country likely analyzed all possible variants and risks and decided to take specifically such step or at least considers aircraft from russia as one possible option.
In Malaysia fighter history, worth mentioning last year this country wanted to strengthen its air forces with used F/A-18C/Ds early February it became known by year end they plan to conclude 30 fighter purchase agreement with Kuwait, which they worked on last year.
However, already late summer Malaysia abandoned purchasing Kuwaiti F/A-18C/Ds due to extended transfer timelines, need to invest $4 million per fighter modernization, airframe wear, obsolete radar station, Link 16 absence and so on. Since that time, reinforcement with new or used but functional and relatively modern aircraft for this country's air force remains relevant question.
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