Rostec announced plans to debut multifunctional stealth drones designed for the fifth-generation Su-57E fighter at the El Alamein International Airshow 2026 in Egypt. Running from September 8 to 10, the exhibition showcases new unmanned platforms featuring varied wing geometries built to operate alongside advanced aviation.
While international aerospace attention focuses on export exhibitions in North Africa, Russian defense assets thousands of miles away are quietly undergoing entirely different defensive adaptations. At the Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base on the Kamchatka Peninsula, satellite imagery reveals that Russia has equipped more of its Pacific Fleet submarines with anti-drone netting.
Global Debut Planned for Su-57E Stealth Drones in Egypt
The state corporation Rostec will stage a world premiere for its new family of multifunctional stealth drones at the upcoming El Alamein International Airshow 2026. Scheduled to run from September 8 through September 10 at the El Alamein International Airport, the exhibition serves as the platform for introducing these unmanned systems alongside the export variant of Russia’s fifth-generation fighter, the Su-57E.
According to the state corporation, the shift in modern warfare dictates the utility of these platforms. Drones have evolved from basic intelligence-gathering tools into primary combat engagement mechanisms.
The press service of Rostec stated that the Rostec State Corporation will hold the world premiere of multifunctional stealth drones designed to be launched from the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet, and that the drones will be presented at the El Alamein International Airshow 2026.
Engineered specifically for deployment directly from the cockpit or internal bays of the Su-57E, the new unmanned vehicles feature low radar signatures, high speeds, and extended flight ranges. To accommodate diverse combat requirements, the drones are equipped with different types of wings across multiple aerodynamic configurations.
Rosoboronexport Organizes Unified Russian Exposition
The presentation in Egypt is organized by Rosoboronexport, the state-controlled arms exporting agency responsible for managing Russia’s unified military exposition at international forums. Analysts note that pairing the stealth drones with the Su-57E is designed to demonstrate the expansion of its combat capabilities and reaffirm industrial standing in advanced aerospace manufacturing.
The Su-57E itself represents the international-facing iteration of the fifth-generation platform, drawing keen interest from prospective foreign buyers looking for integrated aviation complexes.
Pacific Submarines Receive Anti-Drone Netting Defenses
While aerospace marketers prepare for the exhibition in Egypt, satellite intelligence reveals hardening efforts taking place across strategic naval installations far from active front lines. Commercial satellite imagery captured by the US intelligence firm Vantor shows that defenses originally deployed near Black Sea operating areas have now been expanded to the Russian Far East.
Imagery from May indicated only two submarines fitted with protective barriers at the Rybachiy naval base on Kamchatka. By August, that number had grown to more than half a dozen nuclear-powered ballistic-missile and attack submarines covered under newly erected anti-drone netting.
The strategic outpost lies more than 4,500 miles east of Ukraine, yet the deployment reflects an institutional acknowledgment that long-range unmanned systems present a generalized hazard to all fleet assets. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly demonstrated the capacity to strike deep into Russian territory, conducting long-range operations that span thousands of miles.
Preventive Measures Mirror Black Sea Fleet Hardening
The Pacific installations follow a defensive blueprint established at homeports closer to the conflict. British defense officials noted that similar protective architecture applied at Novorossiysk on the Black Sea was applied as a preventive measure in response to Ukraine’s increased ability to strike targets further from the front line.
While Black Sea facilities have utilized water barriers against sea drones alongside counter-drone cages shielding conning towers, the Pacific base relies predominantly on overhead netting configurations designed to intercept aerial threats. Neither the Russian defense ministry nor the US embassy provided immediate comment regarding the satellite findings as preparations continue for next week’s aerospace debut in North Africa.
