Stung by its recent losses in a brief air war against Pakistan, India appears on track to purchase the modern Russian fighter jet—if Moscow can meet its demands for domestic production.
After years of attempts to entice India to adopt its Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter, Russia is reportedly carrying out feasibility studies to determine whether the aircraft could be built under license in the subcontinent. Russian state-owned military-industrial conglomerate Rostec’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) had sought to close a deal with New Delhi for years. It had more recently floated a co-production agreement.
According to a report from India’s Asia News International (ANI), Moscow is now crunching the numbers “to determine the level of investments that it would require” for the Su-57 to be built in India.
India Wants a Regional Military Edge
New Delhi has sought to acquire two to three squadrons of more advanced fifth-generation fighter jets to maintain its edge against regional rivals, notably Pakistan and China.
The latter currently operates its fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon, and last year unveiled the Shenyang J-35, which is designed for both land-based and naval operations. Beijing has indicated that the J-35 air superiority fighter will enter mass production, with potential export to countries including Pakistan.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) was seen to have superior numbers and far more capable aircraft. However, in its flare-up with Pakistan in May, the IAF saw one of its advanced French-made Dassault Rafale 4.5+ generation fighter jets shot down by a Chinese-made Pakistani J-10 Vigorous Dragon (NATO reporting name “Firebird”) using a Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missile. It was one of the longest air-to-air kills on record, with the PL-15 reportedly fired at a distance of 200 km (125 mi), exceeding the IAF’s estimated capabilities of the ordnance.
The shootdown likely served as a warning that New Delhi cannot risk falling behind in the aircraft capabilities of its neighbors. China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) operates as many as 200 J-20 Mighty Dragons, with that number expected to expand further.
India Is Already Growing Closer to Russia
Although President Donald Trump suggested in a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February at the White House that the United States would consider selling the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II to India, the administration has taken a hard line with New Delhi on other issues. That has included a 25 percent tariff imposed on India in retaliation for its purchase of Russian oil, which went into effect last month. That was on top of an already imposed levy on New Delhi of 25 percent, which the White House said was intended to correct an imbalance in the trading relationship.
Instead of bending to Washington, Modi announced this week that India has sought to deepen cooperation with Russia. Modi met in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.
New Delhi is unlikely to back down, but beyond the burgeoning ties with Russia and possibly even China, there is another factor to consider. India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) already manufactures a licensed version of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI (NATO reporting name “Flanker-H”), a two-seat, twin-engine multirole air superiority fighter for the IAF.
Russian agencies, including Rosoboronexport, are now “carrying out studies on investments required for producing Su-57 fighter jets in India,” including at HAL’s Nashik facility, or at other factories where “Russian origin equipment is manufactured,” which could be used in the production of the Su-57.
Rosoboronexport may also offer something that Washington would never consider with the F-35—namely a technology transfer that, in addition to building the Su-57 domestically, could allow New Delhi to integrate its technology with its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.
Although the aircraft being developed via the AMCA is now on track to enter service in the mid-2030s, it risks New Delhi falling dangerously behind China and even Pakistan. Given those threats, the Su-57 is the only realistic path forward for India.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / Marinodenisenko.
MAKS-2013. A Russian fifth-generation Su-57 (NATO – Felon) multirole fighter lands on a concrete runway after a demonstration flight. Zhukovsky, Russia – August 29, 2013. Image: Shutterstock / Marinodenisenko.
