Showdown in the Skies: U.S. F-35 and Russian Su-57 Go Head-to-Head at Aero India

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) –In a rare and dramatic showdown, two American-made F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets touched down at the Indian Air Force Base in Yehalanka, Bengaluru, today—arriving to stand alongside Russia’s formidable Su-57 Felon, which had landed just days earlier.

This unprecedented moment offers a striking visual, as the cutting-edge fighters from two global superpowers sit just meters apart, symbolizing the intense competition for India’s next-generation air superiority.

This marks the first-ever participation of the Su-57 in the Aero India exhibition, while the F-35 previously took part in the biennial air show in 2023.

For the first time in history, the world’s most advanced fifth-generation fighters—the American F-35 Lightning II and the Russian Su-57 Felon—stand side by side, sharing the same airspace in a dramatic display of rival airpower.

The presence of the American F-35 at Aero India is accompanied by two F-16 fighter jets.

Although both the American and Russian fifth-generation fighters will be featured at Aero India 2025, only the Su-57 Felon will participate in aerial demonstrations, while the F-35 will be limited to static display.

According to local media reports citing sources, the primary reason the American F-35 will not participate in the air show’s flying demonstrations is a shortage of qualified demo pilots.

The simultaneous presence of both Russian and American fifth-generation fighters at Aero India is particularly significant, as both global powers are actively courting New Delhi to choose their respective aircraft.

The Indian Air Force urgently requires a fifth-generation fighter to counter its traditional adversaries.

Pakistan is set to acquire the Chinese-made J-35A, while China has already been operating the J-20 Mighty Dragon for several years and is expected to enhance its capabilities with the J-35A.

To compete with Pakistan and China—both of which are integrating fifth-generation fighters—India can no longer rely solely on its fourth-generation++ aircraft, such as the French-made Rafale and the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30.

New Delhi must acquire fifth-generation fighter jets to match the evolving aerial capabilities of its regional rivals.

The United States is offering India the F-35, while Russia has put forward the Su-57.

Moscow has also proposed a joint production arrangement for the Su-57 Felon and collaboration on India’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter program, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The AMCA project, spearheaded by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is India’s ambitious effort to develop a domestically produced fifth-generation fighter jet.

Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev has confirmed that India has been offered a comprehensive partnership in the Su-57E (export variant) project, including local manufacturing capabilities.

“Our proposals include the supply of assembled aircraft, the establishment of joint production in India, and support for the development of India’s fifth-generation fighter,” Mikheev was quoted as saying by Sputnik India.

The offer comes as Russia intensifies its efforts to promote the Su-57 for export, with state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec claiming rising global demand for the aircraft.

“The Su-57 is an advanced fifth-generation aircraft… We expect strong interest in the fighter at the air show in Bengaluru. Alongside continuous aircraft improvements and expansion into new markets, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) specialists are working to scale up production capacity to meet growing demand,” Rostec stated.

The company further claimed that the Su-57 is the only fifth-generation fighter in the world that has proven its effectiveness against Western air defense systems in real combat conditions.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA