Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered India the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jet and proposed its joint production in India as part of the strategic partnership between the two
countries.
Speaking to global media on the sidelines of the St Petersburg Economic Forum, Putin recalled Russia’s earlier proposal to India and affirmed the country’s readiness to cooperate with New Delhi on the export and joint production of the stealth aircraft.
“As far as the Su-57 goes, at one point we proposed to our Indian friends to work together on this technology. It’s fifth-generation technology- I think it’s the best in the world as of now,” he said.
🚨🇷🇺🇮🇳 Putin reveals that Russia offered Su-57 to India as a joint project
“We are ready to supply India with this aircraft, to keep developing it. We don’t have any issues or limitations. Same goes for air defence systems.” pic.twitter.com/tiZr13LJFE
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) June 4, 2026
Referring to previous discussions, Putin said India had preferred to wait and assess the programme before committing to it. “In principle, this could have been our (Russia-India) product. We made it independently. And we are ready to work with India. To work and develop. There will be no restrictions whatsoever,” he added.
What Is Sukhoi Su-57?
The Sukhoi Su-57 is Russia’s first operational fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter aircraft, developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau. It is Russia’s most advanced fighter jet that combines stealth features with electronic warfare systems and long-range precision strikes. It has a top speed of Mach 2.
The aircraft has seen combat deployment in the Ukraine war. However, the SU-57 has faced a degree of scepticism due to limited production numbers, sanctions pressure, and limited combat employment.
India and Russia were in talks for joint development and production of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) for close to 15 years. However, in 2021, India conveyed to Russia its unwillingness to go ahead with it primarily due to the high cost involved in the project. The cost was estimated at around USD 30 billion or Rs 2 lakh crore.
Will India Accept Putin’s Offer?
While India has not responded to Putin’s latest offer, it has not shut the door completely to the joint production of the Sukhoi Su-57. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is in touch with the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the manufacturer of the jet, for possible collaboration, according to news agency PTI.
India has spent years looking for a fifth-generation fighter jet and has launched its ambitious Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, which is widely regarded as the nation’s largest indigenous aerospace programme.
As the aircraft under the AMCA project is unlikely to join the Indian Air Force (IAF) before 2035, the government is considering the procurement of at least two squadrons (around 36) of Su-57s, provided they fulfil the technical specifications.
Meanwhile, India is also developing an indigenous air defence system called “Sudarshan Chakra” and Russian-origin S-400 missile systems are set to be one of its key components. Russia’s S-400 missiles played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor last year.
