With the Indian Air Force's (IAF) squadron strength set to deplete further as two more squadrons of MiG-21 Bison are set to retire in the next two months, there appears to be an urgent need for the country to speed up its fighter jet induction timelines.
"More and more technologies are being added to jets now, so the earlier concept of upgrading jets every ten years is now down to five years," former IAF chief R. K. S. Bhadauria told a media publication earlier this week.
Amid the urgency, the Russian Su-57 could cut timelines as well as provide the IAF with a fifth-generation fighter option. It is currently the only fifth-generation fighter offered with the potential for local production and deep technology transfer.
What makes it particularly interesting for India is its ability to serve as a stopgap capability before its own
Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is
ready in the early 2030s.
Secondly, the Russian proposal includes greater integration freedom for Indian weapons and electronic warfare systems, which aligns with India's doctrine and reduces dependence on imported munitions. It also builds upon our experience with the
Su-30MKI fleet, where we successfully integrated
BrahMos, Astra, and
other indigenous systems, he added.
Thirdly, the Su-57 could act as a technology bridge, offering our engineers and aerospace industry valuable experience in stealth coatings, composites, and radar-evading maintenance practices, which are essential stepping stones for the AMCA project, the observer highlighted.
"However, the Su-57 program is still maturing, and its production rate in Russia has been limited due to sanctions and supply chain constraints. It must negotiate hard delivery timelines, enforce technology transfer commitments, and ensure that key spares and mission systems are localized to avoid long-term vulnerability," Sidhu stated.
While the Su-57 is not a silver bullet, it could well be the fastest and most viable route for India to plug its fifth-generation capability gap—provided it is treated as a well-negotiated bridge solution rather than a permanent dependency. It strengthens India's posture while buying time for its indigenous
programs to mature, he underlined.
Moreover, when it comes to pure kinematic performance, the Su-57 is clearly in a different league than the F-35. Its service ceiling is around 66,000 feet, which is far higher than the F-35's 50,000 feet. Its genuine top speed is Mach 2.0+, as opposed to Mach 1.6 for the Lightning II. The Su-57 has significantly more flexibility in high-speed interception, climb rate, and situational location during aerial encounters, thanks to its height and speed advantage, the defence commentator stressed.