(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) –India has embarked on its boldest step yet to modernize its combat aviation arsenal, advancing negotiations with Moscow to acquire Russia’s most sophisticated fifth-generation fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57, in what could mark a seismic shift in South Asia’s strategic air balance.

The plan envisions an initial fly-away purchase of 36 to 40 aircraft, forming two frontline squadrons, followed by comprehensive technology transfer to enable local production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Nashik facility.

If fully realized, the deal could eventually expand to as many as seven squadrons—equivalent to 120 to 140 jets—making it one of the largest international procurements of the Su-57, second only to Russia’s own domestic fleet.

This trajectory represents a deliberate strategic pivot by New Delhi, prioritizing long-range strike and deterrence capability over pure stealth dominance, and filling critical gaps revealed during recent operations along the western front.

India’s ties with the Su-57 program stretch back to the early 2000s under the ambitious Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) joint venture with Russia.

That program faltered and was formally shelved in 2018, primarily due to Indian concerns regarding insufficient stealth characteristics, engine reliability, and disproportionate cost-sharing demands.

For several years afterward, New Delhi shifted its attention to Western fighters and its own indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, hoping to break free from dependence on Russian platforms.

Yet, shifting geopolitics and operational realities have forced a reassessment.

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and Sukhoi Design Bureau returned to New Delhi this year with a revitalized package—direct deliveries of the first squadrons, coupled with full technology transfer for domestic manufacturing.

The model mirrors the hugely successful Su-30MKI program, which saw HAL Nashik assemble more than 220 aircraft, transforming the Indian Air Force (IAF) into one of the world’s most formidable Sukhoi operators.

The catalyst for India’s sudden urgency was Operation Sindoor, a four-day confrontation with Pakistan in May 2025 following cross-border terror attacks.

Indian missile strikes on militant hideouts escalated into high-intensity aerial duels.

IAF Rafales, while technologically superior in many respects, struggled in extended BVR engagements and deep strike roles against hardened targets.

Analysts noted that payload constraints, radar cross-section vulnerabilities, and limited combat radius placed Rafales at risk in contested airspace, forcing India to revisit the Su-57 option as a complementary long-range strike fighter.

In July, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh publicly acknowledged negotiations with Russia for Su-57 procurement, linking it with the phased retirement of MiG-21 squadrons and timed alongside Moscow’s on-schedule delivery of S-400 Triumf air defence systems.

READ: India Rejects US F-35 Over ‘Bugged’ Systems, Eyes Russian Su-57E to Counter China and Pakistan

Technical Superiority of the Su-57

The Su-57, codenamed Felon by NATO, represents Russia’s first true foray into stealth-oriented fifth-generation combat aviation, entering service in 2020.

At its core lies the AL-41F1 engine, a supercruise-capable powerplant that enables the fighter to sustain supersonic speeds up to Mach 2 without afterburners.

Future Indian variants are expected to be powered by the advanced Izdeliye 30 engine, boosting thrust-to-weight ratio and fuel efficiency.

The Su-57’s operational range exceeds 3,500 kilometres—nearly double the Rafale’s 1,850 km combat radius—making it ideal for long-endurance missions across India’s northern Himalayan borders and the volatile Arabian Sea front.

Its integrated avionics suite is anchored by the N036 Byelka AESA radar, capable of tracking 60 targets simultaneously, with advanced sensor fusion and electronic warfare systems to disrupt enemy radar and missile guidance.

Its weapons carriage is equally formidable.

Internal bays can accommodate six air-to-air missiles, including the long-range R-37M with over 300 km engagement range, and newer hypersonic options under development.

For strike missions, it can deploy precision-guided munitions and the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, an air-launched hypersonic ballistic missile capable of engaging both ground and naval assets at over 2,000 km.

The Su-57’s stealth profile has long been debated, with radar cross-section estimates ranging from 0.1 to 1 square metre—larger than the American F-35 but significantly lower than legacy fourth-generation fighters.

For India, however, stealth is only part of the equation.

The priority lies in survivability, long-range interdiction, and payload capacity—domains where the Su-57 excels.

Crucially, the fighter’s 3D thrust-vectoring nozzles provide unmatched maneuverability in close-quarters combat, offering an edge over China’s J-20, which lacks comparable agility despite its stealthier design.

Indian planners are also exploring integration of indigenous munitions, including the BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missile, turning the Su-57 into a platform capable of conducting high-speed, deep-penetration strikes against critical Pakistani or Chinese assets.

Local Production at HAL Nashik: A “Make in India” Boost

A cornerstone of the proposal is the establishment of Su-57 production lines at HAL’s Nashik facility, which already has decades of experience assembling Su-30MKI aircraft.

Russian officials have assessed that with minor modifications, Nashik could transition to Su-57 assembly, achieving 40–60 percent localization in subsequent production batches.

If executed, this arrangement could generate 54 to 90 additional fighters for the IAF, gradually ramping up to the seven-squadron target.

The Su-30MKI precedent is instructive.

Initial imports from Russia paved the way for HAL to indigenize assembly, creating thousands of skilled jobs and building an aerospace supply chain that remains one of the cornerstones of Indian defence manufacturing.

Nashik’s production record speaks volumes: more than 220 Su-30MKIs delivered, along with 920 aircraft of various types since the Cold War.

For New Delhi, replicating this success with the Su-57 not only boosts self-reliance but also insulates procurement from geopolitical shocks.

The risks are real.

Western sanctions on Russia following its Ukraine campaign have complicated spare parts procurement, raising questions about long-term sustainability.

To mitigate this, India has begun diversifying its supply chain, with HAL exploring licensed production of components through private sector and international partnerships.

India is weighing three acquisition models: full Russian production, joint ventures, or a hybrid import-localization approach.

The hybrid option, strongly favoured by officials, balances cost control with critical technology infusion.

Strategic Implications and Regional Dynamics

The induction of Su-57 squadrons would mark a decisive upgrade to the IAF’s order of battle.

It would augment the Indian Air Force’s existing fleets of 36 Rafales and 272 Su-30MKIs, addressing vulnerabilities revealed during Operation Sindoor, when Pakistan succeeded in downing several of India’s most prized fighters.

Against China, the Su-57 provides a much-needed counterweight to the expanding J-20 fleet and Beijing’s anticipated sixth-generation fighter prototypes.

With India unable to access U.S. F-35s due to export restrictions and political hesitancy, the Su-57 emerges as the only viable fifth-generation option available within the next decade.

Geopolitically, the procurement strengthens Indo-Russian defence cooperation at a time when New Delhi is balancing ties with the West through platforms like the MQ-9B drone deal with the United States and continued Rafale acquisitions from France.

It underscores India’s hedging strategy—diversifying suppliers to avoid overdependence on any single bloc.

Strategically, the Su-57 enhances India’s deterrence posture in the Indo-Pacific.

Its long-range endurance enables persistent patrols over the Indian Ocean, where China has expanded naval and aerial presence.

It also reinforces India’s capacity for rapid response in two-front war scenarios against Pakistan and China, a contingency long feared by Indian planners.

Equally important is the role of the Su-57 as a bridge solution.

India’s indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program is now expected to enter service only between 2035 and 2040, leaving a capability gap of more than a decade.

The Su-57 ensures the IAF retains a cutting-edge deterrent during this transitional window.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Despite the enthusiasm, the path to Su-57 induction is not without obstacles.

The aircraft’s stealth performance remains contested, with critics arguing it falls short of Western fifth-generation benchmarks.

Cost remains another challenge, with unit prices estimated between USD 100–120 million (RM 470–564 million), a significant financial burden for India’s already stretched defence budget.

Interoperability is a concern as well.

The IAF operates a highly diverse fleet sourced from Russia, France, Britain, and domestically developed Tejas fighters.

Integrating Su-57 avionics and weapon systems into this ecosystem requires significant investment in logistics, training, and command-and-control networks.

Geopolitical sanctions on Russia further complicate matters.

Any future Western restrictions could disrupt supply chains or financing arrangements, forcing India to rely heavily on indigenous substitutes.

Nevertheless, momentum is accelerating.

Negotiations are reported to be in their final stages, with potential announcements timed around Russian President Vladimir Putin’s anticipated visit to India later this year.

Approvals from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) are expected soon, potentially clearing the way for deliveries to begin before the end of the decade.

If executed successfully, the Su-57 deal would transform the IAF into a force blending Russian robustness with Indian innovation.

It would mark the beginning of a new era in South Asian airpower, one in which India asserts its role as a regional counterweight to Chinese expansion and Pakistan’s evolving missile-aircraft ecosystem.

READ: Could India Become the First Foreign Hub for Russia’s Su-57 Stealth Fighter?

Conclusion

India’s accelerating push for Su-57 fighters reflects both immediate operational needs and long-term strategic ambition.

It demonstrates a recognition that the window for airpower dominance in South Asia is narrowing, and only bold, decisive moves can preserve India’s deterrence credibility.

For Moscow, the deal secures a major export success for the Su-57 program, reinforcing Russia’s enduring role in shaping Asian security dynamics despite global sanctions.

For New Delhi, it is not just about acquiring an aircraft.

It is about shaping the future of the IAF, strengthening aerospace self-reliance, and ensuring that in the volatile decades ahead, India’s wings remain unchallenged across the subcontinent and beyond.

The Su-57 acquisition symbolizes India’s determination to field a credible fifth-generation capability while bridging the gap until the AMCA enters service in the 2035–2040 timeframe.

It also signals to Beijing and Islamabad that India is prepared to escalate its technological edge, ensuring no adversary can dictate terms in future aerial conflicts.

By establishing production at HAL Nashik, New Delhi demonstrates that procurement is inseparable from industrial growth, job creation, and supply chain resilience.

This decision carries wider strategic messaging to the West, highlighting that India will diversify its partnerships and resist dependency on any single defence supplier.

For the Indian Air Force, the Su-57 represents not only a combat platform but also a test of its ability to absorb, integrate, and operationalize fifth-generation tactics and doctrines.

The procurement reinforces India’s long-held ambition of being a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific, backed by unmatched aerial endurance and strike reach.

Ultimately, the Su-57 program could redefine India’s role in global airpower hierarchies, propelling it into an elite club of nations operating fifth-generation combat aircraft. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA