Why Russia’s offer to provide Su-57 stealth fighter jet tech to India is pathbreaking

Russia has reportedly offered New Delhi technology transfer for the fifth-generation Su-57 stealth fighter jet ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India next month. This signals that defence could be a major agenda during discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin in December.

India and Russia’s defence ties remain strong despite pressure from the West on New Delhi over the Ukraine war. Reports say Moscow’s new offer has the potential to redefine India’s aerial prowess.

Let’s take a closer look.

What is the Su-57 fighter jet?

The Sukhoi Su-57 is Russia’s fifth-generation fighter jet. Its export version of the fighter, the Su-57E, whose Nato reporting name is “Felon”, performed aerial displays at this week’s Dubai Airshow 2025.

The twin-engine military aircraft boasts super-manoeuvrability, supersonic cruising and advanced avionics.

The aircraft, which can fly at Mach 2 speeds, has stealth capabilities to evade radar. It is also equipped with advanced missile and electronic warfare systems.

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At the Dubai Airshow, for the first time, the Su-57E opened its internal weapons bay, which featured mock-ups of the Kh-58 anti-radiation missile and R-74M2 air-to-air missile.

The model presented at the air show also had new 2D thrust-vectoring flat nozzles for the AL-51F-1 engine to reduce the aircraft’s radar and infrared signatures.

“The Su-57 is equipped with two engines featuring controlled thrust vectoring, enabling it to execute manoeuvres at near-zero speeds, extreme angles of attack, and spins. These capabilities can provide a significant edge in aerial combat,” Sergey Bogdan, chief pilot of the Sukhoi Design Bureau at United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), was quoted as saying by Tass news agency.

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Su-57, which is a rival of the American F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, has an edge over other aircraft due to its ability to “remain under control” in any mode.

“In conventional fighters or bombers, pilots must constantly monitor flight parameters to avoid losing control. The Su-57, however, ensures it never does,” Bogdan said.

Besides Russia, only the US and China are manufacturing fighter aircraft in the same generation.

Russia offers Su-57 fighter jet tech to India

Russia has offered unrestricted technology transfer of its fifth-generation Su-57 stealth fighter aircraft to India.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Dubai Air Show 2025, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Russia’s state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec, told ANI, “India and Russia have been partners for many years. Even when India was under sanctions, we supplied the country with weapons to ensure its security.”

“Today, we continue the same approach as in previous years, supplying India with whatever military equipment it needs and ensuring our mutual interests in developing cooperation,” he added.

On potential requests from India for S-400 systems or the Su-57, Chemezov said, “We have strong relations with India, and whatever India requires, we are here to support.”

The proposal is to initially provide the Su-57 fighter jets produced in Russia. Later, the production of the aircraft will be shifted to India in stages, as per NDTV. 

Speaking to the news agency, Vadim Badekha said that India’s concerns and technical requirements concerning the Su-57 have been taken positively. He said all demands from India are “completely acceptable” and that Russian officials are “deeply” in touch with Indian authorities.

According to a senior representative of Russia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, Moscow is proposing to provide India both license production of air weapons for future generation aircraft and integration of Indian weapons.

He said that Rosoboronexport is offering “technology transfer” and “technological learning of new-generation technologies to India, including engines, optics, AESA radar, AI elements, low-signature technologies and modern air weapons.”

Why it matters to India

India is developing its own fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). It is also seeking foreign fifth-generation alternatives while developing its own jet.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is operating much below its sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons. Currently, it has only 29 squadrons.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh had earlier said that the IAF needs to induct 35 to 40 fighter aircraft every year for the next two decades to plug these gaps. He linked this requirement to India’s long-term manufacturing goals under Roadmap 2047.

Russia’s offer could be a big boost for India’s aerial power. As per NDTV, no other country has offered such level of access to its defence technology to India. If New Delhi takes up Moscow on its offer, it could gain access to capabilities that Western nations have repeatedly denied to the South Asian country and build advanced stealth fighters independently.

The offer would also not be palatable to the US, which would rather that India buy its F-35.  Russia is willing to provide “unrestricted technology transfer” of its Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter, along with the hardware.

Such an offer gives an advantage to Russia, with India also benefiting from a potential deal, as per Moneycontrol. A full technology transfer would boost the IAF’s self-reliance and help meet the significant gaps in its squadron strength.

With inputs from agencies