https://sputniknews.in/20250204/russias-su-57-outshines-us-f-35-in-indias-high-stakes-race-for-5th-gen-warplanes-8733107.html
Russia's Su-57 Outshines US F-35 in India's High-Stakes Race for 5th-Gen Warplanes
Russia's Su-57 Outshines US F-35 in India's High-Stakes Race for 5th-Gen Warplanes
Sputnik India
Russia remains India's most reliable and trusted defence partner, with approximately 50 percent of its overall military inventory of Russian origin at present. 04.02.2025, Sputnik India
2025-02-04T11:30+0530
2025-02-04T11:30+0530
2025-02-04T19:57+0530
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Russia's fifth-generation fighter jet Su-57 holds an edge over the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 as India looks to acquire a stealth aircraft to ward off challenges from its regional rivals, China and Pakistan, experts have said.With India holding just 29.5 squadrons of fighter jets as against a sanctioned strength of 42, it is imperative that India builds up this critical deficiency since it needs advanced airpower to tackle the twin threats of Pakistan and China from its Western and Northern borders, according to retired Lieutenant colonel JS Sodhi, a veteran of the Indian Army.In contrast, it is unlikely that the US will offer F-35s to India, as it hasn't acceded to India's request for these fighter aircraft in the past, the military pundit reckoned.India definitely and urgently needs 5th-generation aircraft, retired Air Marshal Anil Khosla emphasised.India is developing its own 5.5 generation warplane named Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Being developed by the country's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the prototype of the AMCA is expected to be rolled out by 2028 before serial production commences in 2035.But as China is already operating a homegrown fifth-generation and also unveiled a model of a sixth-generation combat plane, aviation analysts in New Delhi think that India will have to procure a stealth fighter sooner than later, acording retired Group Captain Uttam Kumar Devnath.Air Force headquarters and the top brass of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has already carried out a systematic evaluation of Su-57's capabilities and as per the feedback received from the test pilots, this modern aircraft meets all the technical and operational parameters laid out by the IAF, the defence commentator stated.Devnath suggested that some movements regarding this acquisition can be expected during President Vladimir Putin's visit to India later this year.Even so, US President Donald Trump would try to exert pressure on India to procure the F-35s instead of the Su-57s as he is keen to bring down the trade imbalance prevailing between the two nations, he underlined."Despite that, I believe the Su-57s have the edge over the F-35s because the American fighter plane's recent poor track record, its high price, and India's firm stance of not putting all eggs in one basket, should pave the way for its acquisition by the IAF," Devnath observed.India is inclined to purchase the Su-57s due to various geopolitical reasons, the pundit said, citing the IAF senior officers.Russia and India have a very good track record of cooperation in licensed aircraft production at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) factories, Igor Korotchenko, a military analyst, and the editor-in-chief of the Russian National Defence magazine, told Sputnik India.Several hundred units have been produced, including around 260 licensed Su-30MKI aircraft. Thus, India and Russia have a strong history of technological partnership, including the transfer of relevant technologies and the organisation of production directly in India of key components for modern fighter jets, he mentioned.Notably, the Russian Embassy in India has confirmed that the Su-57 will be showcased at AERO India 2025, India's premier exhibition for military aircraft. Meanwhile, the American F-35 fifth-generation fighter will not be present at the show.The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter with a single engine and its primary purpose is strike capabilities. In contrast, the Su-57 is capable of both strike functions and achieving air superiority; it is larger and can carry a much wider range of weapons in its internal bays, including air-to-air, air-to-surface missiles, and those of short, medium, and long-range, the Russian expert specified.The American fifth-generation fighters have software and hardware "backdoors," which can be externally triggered to prevent the F-35 from taking off and carrying out combat missions, if such a decision is made in the US. This means that if India were to use these fighters in a military conflict that does not align with US strategic interests, or in case of deteriorated bilateral relations, the US has the ability to disable complex weapons and military equipment supplied for export, he explained."No other country will offer India such a proposal," Korotchenko expressed.Moreover, Russia could enter into a partnership with India in unmanned aviation development, he added. Based on existing R&D work, this could lead to a partnership where Indian Su-57s, while performing their designated missions, would also act as platforms to control unmanned aircraft, solving tasks in conjunction with the Indian version of the fighter, the aviation specialist elucidated.
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Russia's Su-57 Outshines US F-35 in India's High-Stakes Race for 5th-Gen Warplanes
11:30 04.02.2025 (Updated: 19:57 04.02.2025) Russia remains India's most reliable and trusted defence partner, with approximately 50 percent of its overall military inventory of Russian origin at present.
Russia's fifth-generation fighter jet Su-57 holds an edge over the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 as India looks to acquire a stealth aircraft to ward off challenges from its regional rivals, China and Pakistan, experts have said.
With India holding just 29.5 squadrons of fighter jets as against a sanctioned strength of 42, it is imperative that India builds up this critical deficiency since it needs advanced airpower to tackle the twin threats of Pakistan and China from its Western and Northern borders, according to retired Lieutenant colonel JS Sodhi, a veteran of the Indian Army.
"Hence, the Su-57 fighter aircraft which has shown its combat prowess in the Russia-Ukraine War should be evaluated for induction by India. Interestingly, Russia is willing to offer the transfer of technology (ToT), allowing India to build the Su-57s locally," he told Sputnik India.
In contrast, it is unlikely that the US will offer F-35s to India, as
it hasn't acceded to India's request for these fighter aircraft in the past, the military pundit reckoned.
India definitely and urgently needs 5th-generation aircraft, retired Air Marshal Anil Khosla emphasised.
"However, I am not sure if it will put all its backing on indigenous development or go in for a purchase," he suggested.
India is developing its own 5.5 generation warplane named Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Being developed by the country's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the prototype of the AMCA is expected to be rolled out by 2028 before serial production commences in 2035.
But as China is already operating a homegrown fifth-generation and also unveiled a model of a sixth-generation combat plane, aviation analysts in New Delhi think that India
will have to procure a stealth fighter sooner than later, acording retired
Group Captain Uttam Kumar Devnath."China has already deployed J-20 stealth fighters at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de-facto border between the Dragon country and India. Pakistan is also procuring two squadrons of these aircraft from Beijing. Given these developments, India is keen to acquire a fifth-generation combat plane with the Su-57 fitting the bill for the country's air force," Devnath said in an interview with Sputnik India.
Air Force headquarters and the top brass of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has already carried out a systematic evaluation of Su-57's capabilities and as per the feedback received from the test pilots, this modern aircraft meets all the technical and operational parameters laid out by the IAF, the defence commentator stated.
Moreover, what comes as a sweetener to the deal is Russia's willingness to transfer production technology, giving India the rights to manufacture the Su-57s at home, he added.
Devnath suggested that some movements regarding this acquisition can be expected during President Vladimir Putin's visit to India later this year.
Even so, US President Donald Trump would try to exert pressure on India to procure the F-35s instead of the Su-57s as he is keen to bring down the trade imbalance prevailing between the two nations, he underlined.
"Despite that, I believe the Su-57s have the edge over the F-35s because the American fighter plane's recent poor track record, its high price, and India's firm stance of not putting all eggs in one basket, should pave the way for its acquisition by the IAF," Devnath observed.
India is inclined to purchase the Su-57s due to various geopolitical reasons, the pundit said, citing the IAF senior officers.
"One of the foremost is the factor of reliability, unlike Russia which has offered help during critical times, the US has always tried to play ball with India. A case in point is the delay in the engines for the LCA Tejas. One more reason is the cost of acquisition of the two aircraft – a single unit of the Su-57 costs less than a third of what India would have to pay to procure the F-35s," he pointed out.
Russia and India
have a very good track record of cooperation in licensed aircraft production at the
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) factories,
Igor Korotchenko, a military analyst, and the editor-in-chief of the Russian National Defence magazine, told
Sputnik India.Several hundred units have been produced, including around 260 licensed Su-30MKI aircraft. Thus, India and Russia have a strong history of technological partnership, including the transfer of relevant technologies and the organisation of production directly in India of key components for modern fighter jets, he mentioned.
Notably, the Russian Embassy in India has confirmed that the Su-57 will be showcased at AERO India 2025, India's premier exhibition for military aircraft. Meanwhile, the American F-35 fifth-generation fighter will not be present at the show.
"This decision is likely due to the expectation that Russia may present a flying prototype of the Su-57 at the Indian exhibition after its demonstration in China. Clearly, the Americans are in a very unfavorable position in this context," Korotchenko stressed.
The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter with a single engine and its primary purpose is strike capabilities. In contrast, the Su-57 is capable of both strike functions and achieving air superiority; it is larger and can carry a much wider range of weapons in its internal bays, including air-to-air, air-to-surface missiles, and those of short, medium, and long-range, the Russian expert specified.
The American fifth-generation fighters have software and hardware "backdoors," which can be externally triggered to prevent the F-35 from taking off and carrying out combat missions, if such a decision is made in the US. This means that if India were to use these fighters in a
military conflict that does not align with US strategic interests, or in case of deteriorated bilateral relations, the US has the ability to disable complex weapons and military equipment supplied for export, he explained.
Conversely, Russia offers India the development of a two-seat version of the fifth-generation fighter, which is a key requirement of the Indian Air Force. This would be followed by the localisation of production based on the two-seat Su-57 platform directly in India. Over time, the full package of technological solutions would be transferred, allowing India to eventually produce this class of fighters on its own.
"No other country will offer India such a proposal," Korotchenko expressed.
Moreover, Russia could enter into a partnership with India in unmanned aviation development, he added. Based on existing R&D work, this could lead to a partnership where Indian Su-57s, while performing their designated missions, would also act as platforms to control unmanned aircraft, solving tasks in conjunction with the Indian version of the fighter, the aviation specialist elucidated.
"These would not be simple quadcopter drones, but fully functional machines that, in collaboration with the Indian Su-57, could carry out various mission objectives against enemy targets. The Su-57 would act as the lead platform, while Indian heavy-class strike drones would be the subordinate platforms," Korotchenko concluded.
