Trump: We'll sell our allies toned down military planes, because someday, maybe they're not our allies pic.twitter.com/Ofby98Fdvd
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) March 21, 2025
It’s common practice for countries to sell “export models” of their military equipment. These versions often have reduced capabilities compared to the ones used domestically, ensuring that the selling country maintains a technological edge.
For example, Russia’s Su-57 fighter jet has an export variant called the Su-57E, which is tailored for foreign buyers. This approach isn’t unique to Russia; many nations, including the U.S., follow similar strategies with their advanced military hardware. It’s a way to balance international relations while safeguarding national security.
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-confirms-first-su57-export-2025-algeria-nkorea
https://thedefensepost.com/2024/11/14/russia-first-su57-export-deals/