F-35's Restrictions and Su-57's Uncertainties Leave India with Difficult Choices in Acquiring Foreign 5th Gen Stealth Fighter

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.

India's decision will be influenced by more than just acquiring a superior aircraft. It will reflect its broader defence strategy, balancing immediate operational needs with long-term strategic objectives, including technological autonomy, regional power dynamics, and the ability to project influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

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.

 

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[sanket]

Actually, the Su-57 has performed some sorties in the Ukraine war. Second, what the Su-57 can offer with local production and an ecosystem might not be matched by the F-35, plus export to friendly countries, while the F-35 will come with lots of conditions if the US ever agrees, plus it is sanction-prone. You never know when the US can turn the table. Buying these stealth fighter jets is not just an investment, but whenever they are needed, they should be able to perform sorties without needing permission from the OEM and the country that sold the fighter jet. Second, it will be over-dependent on the US, which has proven unreliable. Just look at how many fighter jets will be based on US engines: 220 Tejas MK1A (40 IOC/FOC), 108 Tejas MK2 (maybe a follow-on order will be placed similar to the 97 Tejas MK1A after the initial 83), then TEDBF & 36 AMCA MK1. The US can stop engines for the GE-404 plus 20% of the hot core for the GE-414, and the icing on the cake is that they can ground the F-35 if they ever agree to sell it. Most of the fighter jets would be under the US umbrella with remote control.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

US platforms should be not even considered. Probably our planner don't pay heed to geopolitics. Are they not aware of USA's misdeeds in separatism of NE, Punjab and Nepal?. Procure 2-3 squadrons of Su57. Even if we go for a G2G deal in next 2-3 years they will take further 4-5 years to be delivered.

 

[PKPRS]

India don't care about Geo political risks, other wise they wouldn’t signed a $4Bln deal to make 50-60 Voronezh OTH Radar in Bengaluru.

 

[Marcus]

India should focus on indigenous AMCA, HAL Mak 2 etc instead of F35 or F22 raptor, there is higher possibility of India going with Sukhoi 57 instead of US ones. India need to increase defense and offensive spending and increase airforce squadron to 60 by 2050 from current 31.

 

[P.K Senapati]

India should immediately take steps to make in India 60 of either double-engined Su-57 or single-engined Su-75. They are equivalent to F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters. We need these aircraft immediately without waiting. The AMCA project can continue, as it takes a minimum of 10 years. When it comes, it can be produced and used since we need more squadrons of 5th-generation aircraft.

 

[Andy]

Chinese stuff off limits due to geopolitical reasons. Really. Otherwise we were dying to buy that junk.

 

[Koorma]

Delay purchase and put all the money in developing the critical technologies within 2 years. Be it engines, radar or whatever. Start 2 projects: one by privates, one by psu. Attrackt foreign specialists if necessary. Offer them a dream salary. As long as you achieve your goals, anything is fair!

 

[BCharlie]

Chinese stuff off limits due to geopolitical reasons. Really. Otherwise we were dying to buy that junk.

Sir ji, its not that we are dying to buy that from Chinese.. actually nobody else is willing to or have offered us the 5th gen fighter plane.. See, how we are now talking about SU-57. Desperation makes us see it as 5th gen even though its not;

 

[Anant]

India don't care about Geo political risks, other wise they wouldn’t signed a $4Bln deal to make 50-60 Voronezh OTH Radar in Bengaluru.

Pretty certain the deal would be for a very small number of radar systems, not 50-60. We aren't that large of a nation considering the radars coverage, and redundancy is only required up until a point.

 

[Mark Williamson]

How about stealth drones. All your enemies are right next door. You dont need 5th generation jets that need to travel long distance. You have brahmos for fixed targets, s400 for air defense. You guys should be the first country to have a fleet of stealth drones with air to air missiles. Just make thousands of them for cheap. Use heat seaking missiles for enemy stealth jets. You guys can change the game.