India's Next Fighter Jet Mystery: Su-57, F-35 or Other Options As Indigenous AMCA Is Readied - EXCLUSIVE

India has not taken a decision about the Russian-made Sukhoi-57 fighter, a fifth-generation aircraft, for the Indian Air Force (IAF). With the visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin coming up, highly placed government sources said that while the Su-57 was “looked at during Aero India,” there will be “no serious discussions” on it. “We are not talking about the Su-57… there has been nothing concrete about it so far,” the sources added. India has the Sukhoi-30MKI, about 270 of them, and they are made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India. If India accepts the Russian offer for the Su-57, it can be made in India after some modifications to the HAL line, but that decision is yet to be made. Sources added that there could be a “stopgap”

requirement for a fifth-generation fighter till the AMCA or the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft is ready, and perhaps, 2-3 squadrons (40-60) aircraft may be necessary, but that decision lies ahead. Which aircraft to buy is also a partly political one.When the decision is taken (presumably in the future), the Su-57, which has stealth technology, could feature as could the American F-35, which US President Donald Trump offered when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Washington DC. With the Americans, the offer would probably be for planes in “flyaway condition,” the sources added, something less feasible, though possible in the aatmanirbharta or self reliance era. Two “Western” fifth-generation fighters (they have even been called sixth generation by some) are in development: France and Germany are working on one, while Italy, Japan and Britain are working on the other. India has had very preliminary discussions with one of the consortiums. India has the French Rafale, and could get more in the future, but it is a 4.5 generation aircraft, and the requirement for the “stopgap” 2-3 5th generation fighters could come up before AMCA arrives. But the political decision for the Su-57 has not been taken as yet.