Russia to show Africa’s most powerful military a never-before-seen weapon carried in its new flagship Su-57E export fighter

• Rostec announced it will display a confidential new weapon on the Su-57E export fighter at Egypt’s El Alamein airshow.
• The Su-57E, Russia's fifth-generation export fighter, will showcase previously unreleased armament during the event.
• Rostec did not disclose details about the new weapon or which foreign countries have already acquired the Su-57E.
• Algeria recently purchased and deployed the Russian Su-34E strike fighter, which is noted for its range and heavy weapons load.

Russia’s top defense company, Rostec, recently relayed that it would be displaying a weapon that for now remains confidential on its Su-57E export fighter at the El Alamein airshow, hosted by the Egyptian military, Africa’s most powerful fighting unit.

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The airshow, which is set to take place at the El Alamein International Airport on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, is set to feature Russia’s Su-57E, an export version of Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter.

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The aircraft is scheduled to feature previously unreleased armament, both domestically and internationally, while executing aerobatic maneuvers during the flight demonstration, according to a statement released by the Russian state defense company, as seen on the DefenseBlog.

“The Su-57 is the flagship fighter of the Russian Air Force, whose performance has been confirmed in real combat conditions,” Rostec’s statement reads.

“Now this aircraft is also winning export markets.

Deliveries to foreign partners, who fully understand the advantages of this aircraft, are already underway. New modifications of the fighter are becoming even more effective and dangerous.

In Egypt, we are presenting the export variant with completely new weaponry, shown for the first time,” it adds.

Rostec withheld both details of the new weaponry and the specific foreign nations that have purchased the Su-57E.

To date, no sovereign state has officially confirmed operational deployment of the Su-57E.

    However, **as recently reported,** Africa’s second-most powerful military, Algeria, purchased a similar Russian fighter, the Su-34E, and has since put its newly acquired strike fighters into service.

The Su-34E strike fighters are recognized as the heaviest and longest-range combat aircraft in active service today.

The first presumed photographs of the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-34E in Algerian Air Force service recently emerged, as they were photographed at Laghouat/Moulay Ahmed Medeghri Airport in northern Algeria.

The Su-34E is a large, two-seat strike aircraft designed mainly to attack ground and sea targets over long distances. It can carry a heavy weapons load and is built for sustained combat missions.

On the other hand, the Su-57E is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed for both air combat and precision strikes. It uses stealth features to make it harder for enemy radar to detect.

The El Alamein International Airshow

As mentioned earlier, Egypt is set to host the El Alamein International Airshow from September 8 to 10, 2026, at El Alamein International Airport, with a dedicated conference scheduled for September 7.

The event was inaugurated in 2024 and is typically known for bringing together companies, government agencies, and professionals from the aerospace, defence, and space industries.

The event is supported by several major Egyptian institutions, including the Ministry of Defence, Egyptian Air Force, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Egyptian Space Agency, and EgyptAir.

The airshow is also expected to provide a platform for industry leaders, government officials and aviation professionals to network, exchange ideas and explore potential business and investment opportunities.