Air Marshal Anil Khosla recently highlighted the complex considerations India faces in its pursuit of fifth-generation fighter aircraft. He emphasized key factors such as life cycle cost, technology transfer, alignment with the "Make in India" initiative, delivery schedules, aircraft performance, and compatibility with existing Indian systems.
India's quest for a fifth-generation fighter is complicated by the limited number of suppliers. With China out of the picture due to geopolitical tensions, India's options are effectively limited to the American F-35 Lightning II and the Russian Su-57.
Acquiring the F-35 presents significant challenges. India's deployment of the Russian S-400 air defence system is a major obstacle, as it has been a point of contention with the U.S., leading to Turkey's expulsion from the F-35 program. This raises concerns about potential U.S. sanctions or restrictions on India.
Furthermore, even if the U.S. approves the sale, it's likely to come with stringent conditions, including restrictions on technology transfer, which is crucial for India's self-reliance ambitions.
On the other hand, Russia has renewed its efforts to attract India with the Su-57, offering enhanced stealth features, improved avionics, hypersonic weapon integration, and a reduced price. Russia has also shown flexibility in payment terms, potentially accepting Indian rupees. However, the Su-57 also comes with its own set of challenges:
- Technology Transfer: Russia might be hesitant to share critical technologies, hindering India's pursuit of technological independence.
- Combat Provenance: The Su-57 lacks extensive combat experience, raising concerns about its reliability in real-world scenarios.
- Delivery Concerns: The ongoing conflict in Ukraine raises doubts about Russia's ability to adhere to delivery schedules.
- Geopolitical Risks: The threat of U.S. sanctions for significant military purchases from Russia adds another layer of complexity.
With no easy options available, India's approach to fifth-generation fighters will likely involve a combination of diplomatic negotiations, strategic foresight, and a renewed focus on its indigenous AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) program to reduce reliance on foreign technology.
