F-35 vs Su-57E took center stage at the Dubai Airshow on Monday, as Lockheed Martin’s flagship stealth fighter and Russia’s United Aircraft Corp.’s export model performed a rare side‑by‑side flying display aimed squarely at Middle East defense budgets.
Key Points
The demonstrations offered Gulf governments a direct look at two different stealth propositions. One is the battle‑tested F‑35, which the United States has positioned for regional partners. The other is the Su‑57E, Russia’s export configuration, which is still seeking its first overseas buyer and is being promoted with an offer of local production and technology transfer for foreign customers.
For an airshow known for big announcements and bigger ambitions, the staging mattered. The F-35 vs Su-57E comparison underscored how procurement choices in the Gulf are evolving, and how supplier politics, cost, and capability are converging at one of the aerospace industry’s most-watched events.
F-35 vs Su-57E on the Same Flight Line, a Rare Sight
It is uncommon for US and Russian manufacturers to appear at the same venue in the current geopolitical climate. With Washington and Moscow on opposite sides of the war in Ukraine, the Dubai Airshow set an unusual scene as the F-35 and Su‑57E shared the spotlight. The pairing has been seen only a handful of times; the first time these planes did so was at Aero India 2025 in February.
That rarity raised the stakes of the Dubai passes. For prospective buyers, seeing the F-35 vs Su-57E in the same environment is one of the few opportunities to compare competing stealth offerings at close range, even if the deeper details that matter to air forces—from mission systems to sustainment requirements—remain mostly out of public view.
Gulf Signals: UAE Pause, Saudi Path
Regional context framed the flybys. The United Arab Emirates had previously sought to purchase F-35s, but suspended negotiations in 2021 after the US required the removal of Huawei Technologies Co. equipment from the country’s telecommunications network and other steps to distance itself from China. That pause remains one of the clearest examples of how broader technology and security considerations can shape fighter‑jet deals in the Gulf.
Elsewhere in the region, the US is expected to reach a deal to sell F‑35s—aircraft that can cost about $100 million apiece—to Saudi Arabia. Such a transaction would be a marquee acquisition in the Gulf and would further anchor the F‑35’s presence in Middle Eastern air forces.
On the Russian side, the Su‑57E has yet to secure an export order, and no publicly disclosed unit price has been provided. To sweeten the proposition, United Aircraft Corp. is offering local production options and the transfer of technology as part of potential sales, according to a statement. For some governments, the chance to assemble aircraft domestically or gain access to specific technologies can weigh heavily in competitive tenders.
What Buyers Are Weighing: Cost, Complexity, and Fleet Mix
Beyond the aerobatics, the calculus for defense ministries can be stark. Stealth aircraft are more complex and more costly to operate than standard fighters. That reality pushes some countries to prioritize building out their fleets with less advanced models rather than acquiring only a handful of stealth jets.
In other words, the appeal of a high‑end capability is frequently balanced against the need for numbers. Training, maintenance intensity, and lifecycle expenses accumulate quickly for fifth‑generation platforms. As a result, the F-35 vs Su-57E decision intersects with a broader question many air forces face: invest in a small number of stealth aircraft, or commit resources to larger fleets of conventional fighters to cover more missions day to day. The Dubai displays gave officials a timely reminder of that trade‑off.
The Su‑57E’s Unknowns
Little is known publicly about the Su‑57E’s performance, making a thorough evaluation difficult for potential customers. While airshow routines can showcase agility and presence, the key performance data that defense planners analyze—sensor integration, survivability, and mission effectiveness—remain largely undisclosed in the public domain for the Su‑57E.
The lack of a publicly available unit cost also complicates direct comparisons. For finance ministries, predictable acquisition and sustainment costs are central to managing multi‑year defense budgets. Against that backdrop, transparency in pricing and performance can affect confidence as buyers assess the F-35 vs Su-57E options presented at Dubai.
Russia’s Pitch: Local Production and Technology Transfer
United Aircraft Corp. is emphasizing industrial participation to make the Su‑57E more attractive. The company says it is prepared to offer local production for foreign customers, alongside technology transfer as part of sales packages. Such terms can help strengthen domestic aerospace ecosystems, create jobs, and build independent maintenance capacity.
For governments seeking deeper industrial involvement, this kind of arrangement can be appealing. It also differentiates Russia’s offer in a field where procurement decisions extend beyond the aircraft itself to include long‑term support, training pipelines, and the development of local technical skills. For some delegations walking the Dubai flight line, that industrial dimension is part of the F-35 vs Su-57E conversation.
A Competitive Stage Shaped by Geopolitics
The Dubai Airshow has often served as a neutral showcase for rivals, but the current geopolitical split between the US and Russia makes shared appearances notable. The presence of both manufacturers this year put buyers in the region at the center of a rare convergence. It also followed the Aero India 2025 event in February, when the aircraft were first seen in the same setting.
Against that background, the Dubai displays took on additional significance. They offered a tangible reminder of how regional procurement choices can be influenced by global alignments and how the defense marketplace adapts as political conditions shift. The ability to evaluate capabilities side by side—even at an airshow level—adds context for decision‑makers managing long‑range plans.
Price Tags and Timing
For the F-35, the indicative price—about $100 million per jet—remains a benchmark figure in regional debates over affordability. Budget planning cycles, delivery timelines, and training demands all factor into when a country can realistically bring new fleets online.
For the Su‑57E, pricing that is not yet public and performance details that are not fully disclosed mean the financial and operational picture is still forming. That leaves prospective buyers to weigh the value of Russia’s industrial offers—local production and technology transfer—alongside the lack of an announced export track record for the Su‑57E.
What the Airshow Means for the Region
For Gulf capitals, the Dubai Airshow reinforced a familiar reality: choices at the very top of the fighter pyramid are tied to broader policy decisions. The F-35 vs Su-57E moment on Monday highlighted a competitive landscape in which the US is positioning to finalize an expected sale to Saudi Arabia, while Russia is pitching an export jet that is still seeking its first foreign customer.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s paused F‑35 bid, centered in part on Huawei’s role in domestic telecom infrastructure, remains a salient example of how technology ecosystems intersect with defense deals. The airshow offered a high‑visibility platform for each side to restate its case and for buyers to calibrate their next steps.
The Road Ahead
As the Dubai Airshow continues to draw delegations, the real decisions will be made away from the runway. Budgets, policy requirements, and program transparency will guide negotiations long after the smoke trails fade. For now, the rare side‑by‑side display has sharpened the picture.
The F-35 vs Su-57E showdown put two stealth paths in the same frame: one with an established price point and expected near‑term sales to a key Gulf buyer, the other with an industrial participation pitch and undisclosed costs. For defense planners, that contrast is the point—and the region’s next contracts will reflect how each capital values capability, scale, and the terms on offer.
FAQ’s
Why is the F-35 vs Su-57E pairing at the Dubai Airshow notable?
It’s rare for U.S. and Russian stealth fighters to share a venue, especially amid the war in Ukraine. The last time they appeared together was at Aero India 2025 in February.
How much does an F-35 cost, and who might buy it in the Gulf?
The F-35 can cost about $100 million per jet. The U.S. is expected to reach a deal to sell the aircraft to Saudi Arabia.
Why did the UAE pause its F-35 talks?
In 2021, the UAE suspended negotiations after U.S. demands to remove Huawei gear from its telecom network and take steps to distance itself from China.
Has the Su-57E been exported, and what is Russia offering?
The Su-57E hasn’t been sold for export yet, and no unit cost is public. Russia is pitching local production and technology transfer to prospective buyers.
