In modern air combat, few aircraft are as well-known as those made by Russia’s iconic aerospace manufacturer Sukhoi. This company produces jets defined by their speed, maneuverability, and raw power. Thanks to these incredibly designed craft, Sukhoi fighter jets have become important vehicles for air forces around the world. Many of these aircraft models are instantly recognizable, from Cold War–era builds to cutting-edge multirole fighters. In some countries, they dominate the skies in record-breaking numbers.
The reason is simple: Sukhoi jets offer a mix of performance, affordability, and proven reliability. For nations seeking high-tech air power outside of Western alternatives, these jets present a quality solution. Sukhoi aircraft can be used for air superiority, ground attack, or deterrence. This article explores the countries that operate the largest fleets of Sukhoi jets and the strategic reasons why they choose this plane over other options.
This post was updated on December 23, 2025 to provide a brief overview of the Sukhoi jet.
Why We’re Covering This
The widespread adoption of Sukhoi jets underlines their strategic importance and the enduring legacy of Soviet-era military engineering in shaping today’s aerial combat doctrines. Sukhoi jets are known for their exceptional performance and high-quality construction. As geopolitical dynamics evolve, the presence of Sukhoi jets in multiple air forces worldwide underscores their crucial role in modern military strategies. (Russia’s Su-57 Felon is set to compete with U.S. fifth-generation fighter jets.)
Check out which countries fly the most Sukhoi fighter jets:
34. Eritrea
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 2
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-27
- Total military aircraft: 20
- Military strength score: 2.4152 – #117 out of 145
33. Ivory Coast
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 2
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 9
- Military strength score: 1.9869 – #98 out of 145
32. Myanmar
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 2
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 4
- Variants: Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 293
- Military strength score: 0.5251 – #35 out of 145
31. Niger
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 2
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 24
- Military strength score: 2.5988 – #121 out of 145
30. Libya
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 3
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-22, Su-24
- Total military aircraft: 132
- Military strength score: 1.4449 – #79 out of 145
29. Democratic Republic of Congo
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 6
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 46
- Military strength score: 1.2491 – #73 out of 145
28. Uganda
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 6
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 55
- Military strength score: 2.2405 – #114 out of 145
27. Bulgaria
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 7
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 65
- Military strength score: 1.0132 – #62 out of 145
26. Peru
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 8
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 258
- Military strength score: 0.8475 – #53 out of 145
25. Chad
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 9
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 41
- Military strength score: 1.8607 – #93 out of 145
24. Azerbaijan
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 12
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 144
- Military strength score: 0.9934 – #59 out of 145
23. Sudan
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 15
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 170
- Military strength score: 1.4119 – #76 out of 145
22. Indonesia
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 16
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-27, Su-30, Su-35
- Total military aircraft: 474
- Military strength score: 0.2251 – #13 out of 145
21. Armenia
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 17
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25, Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 64
- Military strength score: 2.0583 – #102 out of 145
20. Malaysia
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 18
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 143
- Military strength score: 0.5992 – #42 out of 145
19. Venezuela
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 21
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 242
- Military strength score: 0.9447 – #57 out of 145
18. Yemen
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 23
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-22
- Total military aircraft: 177
- Military strength score: 1.4692 – #81 out of 145
17. Turkmenistan
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 25
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 90
- Military strength score: 1.4906 – #83 out of 145
16. Iraq
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 30
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25
- Total military aircraft: 371
- Military strength score: 0.7441 – #45 out of 145
15. Ethiopia
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 31
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-27
- Total military aircraft: 91
- Military strength score: 0.7938 – #49 out of 145
14. Iran
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 32
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-22, Su-24
- Total military aircraft: 551
- Military strength score: 0.2269 – #14 out of 145
13. Poland
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 32
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-22
- Total military aircraft: 468
- Military strength score: 0.2917 – #21 out of 145
12. Angola
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 38
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-22, Su-25,Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 297
- Military strength score: 0.8702 – #55 out of 145
11. Uzbekistan
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 38
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-27
- Total military aircraft: 191
- Military strength score: 1.1069 – #65 out of 145
10. North Korea
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 56
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-25, Su-27
- Total military aircraft: 951
- Military strength score: 0.5313 – #36 out of 145
9. Syria
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 57
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-22, Su-24
- Total military aircraft: 452
- Military strength score: 1.0026 – #60 out of 145
8. Belarus
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 61
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 8
- Variants: Su-25, Su-27
- Total military aircraft: 183
- Military strength score: 1.0901 – #64 out of 145
7. Ukraine
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 65
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-24, Su-25, Su-27
- Total military aircraft: 321
- Military strength score: 0.2598 – #18 out of 145
6. Kazakhstan
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 69
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 16
- Variants: Su-24, Su-25, Su-27, Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 243
- Military strength score: 0.9495 – #58 out of 145
5. Vietnam
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 79
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 0
- Variants: Su-22, Su-27, Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 226
- Military strength score: 0.3158 – #22 out of 145
4. Algeria
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 105
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 10
- Variants: Su-24, Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 605
- Military strength score: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145
3. India
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 266
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 12
- Variants: Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 2,296
- Military strength score: 0.1023 – #4 out of 145
2. China
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 399
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 50
- Variants: Su-27, J-11/16, J-15, Su-30/33, Su-35
- Total military aircraft: 3,304
- Military strength score: 0.0706 – #3 out of 145
1. Russia
- Active Sukhoi aircraft: 1082
- Sukhoi aircraft on order: 110
- Variants: Su-57, Su-35, Su-34, Su-30
- Total military aircraft: 4,255
- Military strength score: 0.0702 – #2 out of 145
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