 "US offers India F-35, while Russia proposes SU-57. How do they compare?")
The Aero India 2025, which concludes today, witnessed a face-off between the US’ F-35 fighter jet and Russia’s SU-57.
Both the US and Russia are offering their respective fifth-generation fighter jets – which were seen side by side for the first time on an airstrip – to India.
Though the SU-57 took to the skies during Asia’s biggest air show on Thursday, the F-35 remained on static display.
But how do they match up? Which aircraft is better? H
Let’s take a closer look:
F-35 vs SU-57: The basics
Both the F-35 and SU-57 Felon are fifth-generation fighters.
The F-35 is made by powerhouse weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin’s website states, “The F-35A brings a decisive advantage to the battlespace, providing an asymmetric advantage across the multi-domain spectrum. The F-35A’s transformational capabilities enable pilots to operate in any environment, against any threat.”
Nine countries – United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia – were involved in the development of the F-35.
As pe_r CNBC,_ each F-35 unit costs between $80 million and $115 million.
The SU-57 is made by major Russian aircraft firm Sukhoi.
The Sukhoi’s website states, “The Sukhoi Su-35 is a deep modernisation of the Su–27 fighter in order to significantly increase engagement effectiveness against air, land and sea targets.”
Russia has promoted the SU-57 as an equivalent to the US’ F-35 – which is thought to be “the world’s most advanced multirole fighter jet.”
It is the first sophisticated fighter plane Russia has produced since the end of the Cold War.
As per The War Zone, Russia has claimed the SU-57 is ‘significantly cheaper’ than the F-35 but Moscow has not mentioned the figure.
Under the hood
The F-35 is a single-seater, single-engine plane, while the SU-57 is a single-seat fighter plane with a twin-engine.
The F-35, with the most powerful engine in the world – the Pratt & Whitney F135 – can hit a top speed of Mach 1.6.
However, the Sukhoi, which is using Russia’s Saturn AL-41F1 after-burning turbofan engine, can hit a top speed of Mach 1.8.
The F35 is a long range supersonic fighter.
It has a fuel capacity of 18,498 pounds and can carry a payload of 8,160 kg.
It has a range of 2172 kilometes.
It has a maximum operating altitude of over 50,000 feet.
The F-35A’s electronic sensors include the Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) – which gives pilots with situational awareness when it comes to missile warning, aircraft warning, and day/night pilot vision.
The F-35A also comes with an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS).
This system, which is internally mounted, allows the fighter plane to increase its range detection and precision strike against ground targets as well as long range detection of air threats.
The F-35A’s helmet mounted display system is the most advanced system of its kind. All the intelligence and targeting information an F-35A pilot needs to complete the mission is displayed on the helmet’s visor.
As per PWIAS, The SU-57 comes with a serrated exhaust nozzle which brings down its radar and infrared signature.
The SU-57 can hold up to 7.4 tonnes of weapons, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.
It has a maximum operating altitude of 54,100 feet and a combat range of 2,999 kilometres.
The SU-57 is said to be able hit air, ground, and naval targets and achieve supersonic cruising speed.
It is thought to come with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment including a powerful onboard computer known as the electronic second pilot.
Its radar system is spread across its body, while its arms are inside the fuselage.
Its AI system can also fly the plane and set up the use of weapons.
Adoption worldwide
According to Fortune India, there are over 1,000 F-35s currently operation all around the world.
Conversely, Russia has managed to make just 40 SU-57s at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant in the country’s Far East.
The Sukhoi has long faced delays in its development and witnessed a major crash in 2019.
According to its manufacturer, serial production of the aircraft began in 2022.
As per The War Zone, Russian defence firm Rosoboronexport last year claimed that it had signed a deal to sell the SU-57s.
However, no buyer was named.
Concerns about its SU-57’s stealth capabilities also persist, as per Fortune India.
Why does India need a 5th gen fighter?
As per Fortune India, the Indian Air Force currently has 2,229 aircraft including around 600 fighter jets.
However, India does not have a fifth-generation fighter jet – unlike Russia, China and the US.
The Dassault Rafale, which has been inducted into the Indian Air Force, is a 4.5 generation fighter plane.
As per The Print, India is working on its own fifth-generation fighter jet.
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is being designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
However, the AMCA will likely take years to develop.
The War Zone noted that the AMCA is planned to enter service until 2036.
However, HAL has been trying to develop the project since 2010.
HAL earlier wanted to have a working prototype by 2025.
Experts are thus worried about India’s air force falling behind both China and Pakistan.
Beijing has developed a fifth-generation J-35A fighter jet – which looks to be the spitting image of the F-35.
This, as it has inducted over 200 J-20 fighters – its other stealth plane – into the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
As per Eurasian Times, China is aiming to have over 1,500 fifth and sixth gen fighter jets by 2035.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has announced plans to purchase fifth-gen fighters from China as well as Kaan fighter jets from Turkey.
Experts say the Indian Air Force would be at a massive disadvantage in a two-front war against its counterparts from China and Pakistan.
What do experts say?
Some are not impressed by the Russia SU-57 as an answer to China.
As defence journalist Angad Singh, an Indian defense journalist told The War Zone, “The Felon, let’s be real, is probably the least-capable ‘fifth-generation’ fighter out there, and the least mature. Not a good combination. I don’t see the utility in it as a counter to Chinese fifth-generation developments.”
However, others are not sure whether the F-35 is suited for India.
Zen Technologies chairman and managing director Ashok Atluri, speaking to CNBC, called the F-35 a “white elephant.”
“Even Elon Musk has called the F-35 obsolete,” he said.
Atluri said India would be better off looking at drones and anti-drone systems.
With inputs from agencies
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