Russia Offers India Upgraded Su-57E Jets with Hypersonic Weapons, But Concerns Remain Over Stealth, Engine Reliability, and AMCA Impact

Russia is making a renewed push to entice India with its Su-57E fifth-generation fighter jet, now boasting upgrades that include hypersonic weapons, enhanced stealth features, and improved avionics. To sweeten the deal, Russia has reportedly lowered the aircraft's cost and expressed willingness to accept payment in Indian rupees.

However, despite these incentives, India remains cautious. Concerns persist about Russia's ability to deliver on its promises, particularly regarding technology transfer, the reliability of the new engine, and the potential impact this acquisition could have on India's own fifth-generation fighter program, the AMCA.

India's pursuit of fifth-generation fighters is driven by the evolving regional security landscape. Facing potential conflicts with both China and Pakistan, whose air power is rapidly advancing, India recognizes the need for cutting-edge technology to maintain air superiority.

Additionally, much of the Indian Air Force's existing fleet is aging, necessitating replacement with more capable aircraft. While the AMCA is envisioned as a long-term solution, interim measures are needed to address immediate security gaps.

The Su-57E, with its redesigned airframe, aims to deliver enhanced stealth capabilities. However, doubts persist about its radar cross-section compared to other fifth-generation fighters.

The aircraft is equipped with advanced avionics, including AESA radar and electronic warfare systems, to improve survivability and situational awareness.

The planned integration of the Izdeliye 30 engine promises increased thrust, supercruise capability, and thrust vectoring, but delays in its development have cast a shadow on the Su-57E's overall readiness.

India and Russia have a long-standing defence partnership, with Russia being a major supplier of military equipment, including MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets. However, a previous joint venture to develop a fifth-generation fighter, the FGFA program, fell apart in 2018 due to disagreements over technology transfer, cost, and performance. This past experience contributes to India's current cautious approach.

A key concern for India is the potential impact of the Su-57E on the AMCA program. While access to advanced Russian technology could offer valuable insights, it could also divert resources and potentially hinder the AMCA's development. Furthermore, relying on foreign technology contradicts India's ambition to achieve self-reliance in defence.

Acquiring the Su-57E also raises geopolitical concerns. Strengthening defence ties with Russia could strain India's growing relationships with Western defence partners and risk sanctions from the United States.

India's decision on the Su-57E will be a complex one, balancing immediate operational needs with long-term strategic goals. While the upgraded aircraft offers significant capabilities, concerns about technology transfer, engine reliability, and the potential consequences for the AMCA program remain significant hurdles.

India must carefully weigh these factors alongside the geopolitical implications before making a decision that aligns with its broader defence strategy and ambitions for technological autonomy.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

Nope. There is nothing stealthy about that plane. Russia should leave day dreaming.

 

[Vineet Sharma]

This is a grave concern that Pakistan is going to get J35.. It may not be effective but a morale booster for Pakistan.. Either we need to be efficient or trust inefficiency of our enemy.. We have to take a call to wait for AMCA Or procure 2-3 sq of 5th gen.. Hope we take call soon..

 

[Sentoki]

Nope. There is nothing stealthy about that plane. Russia should leave day dreaming.

Don't buy into Western propaganda. The SU-57 is plenty stealthy enough for our requirements, especially with terrain masking in the LAC area. The only imperative is the AL-41 engine.

If Russia offers the SU-57E with the AL-41 engine and the option to integrate Indian weapons, it's a damn good option compared to any MRFA offerings.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

Don't buy into Western propaganda. The SU-57 is plenty stealthy enough for our requirements, especially with terrain masking in the LAC area. The only imperative is the AL-41 engine.

If Russia offers the SU-57E with the AL-41 engine and the option to integrate Indian weapons, it's a damn good option compared to any MRFA offerings.

There is a reason the IAF has gotten out of this program after just 3 years, and I hope you understand. The IAF at least understands it's not Western propaganda. Russia, with all its contributions to our armed forces, has heavily extracted money for the Su-30 program. They literally saved their company after the Su-30 deal with India. They want the same thing with the Su-57. The Su-57 is not a stealthy plane; the KF-51, being a 4.5 gen, has better stealth characteristics than this Su-57. The government should fully focus on the Mk1A production rate, Mk2, and AMCA rollout. Recent reports suggest the Mk2 will be out in 2025, and AMCA in 2026, 2027. Nothing beyond that. The only thing beyond that we should focus on is the engine.

 

[Sentoki]

There is a reason the IAF has gotten out of this program after just 3 years, and I hope you understand. The IAF at least understands it's not Western propaganda. Russia, with all its contributions to our armed forces, has heavily extracted money for the Su-30 program. They literally saved their company after the Su-30 deal with India. They want the same thing with the Su-57. The Su-57 is not a stealthy plane; the KF-51, being a 4.5 gen, has better stealth characteristics than this Su-57. The government should fully focus on the Mk1A production rate, Mk2, and AMCA rollout. Recent reports suggest the Mk2 will be out in 2025, and AMCA in 2026, 2027. Nothing beyond that. The only thing beyond that we should focus on is the engine.

The world, Russia & India are all at a much different place than in 2018.

From India's perspective, Tejas MK1 FOC had barely started flying, there were no Indian A2A weapons to speak of, AMCA was not even a possibility. Today, India is a stronger and bigger economy and trading partner for Russia. We know how to design and build our own aircraft; our 5th-generation aircraft prototype is in the works; the timing is just not ideal.

From Russia's perspective, there was no large-scale Ukraine war; the West hadn't fully ostracized them or blocked them from trading using dollars. Today, all of this is true, and from a defense equipment sale standpoint, Russia is negotiating from a position of weakness.

In 2018, the AL-51 showed no signs of progress, and India had no interest in an AL-31 derived (AL-41) engined "fifth-generation fighter." I am putting that in quotes because, with that engine, it is not really a fifth-generation fighter.

Today, the AL-51 development has matured and is gearing up for full-scale production. This is why the IAF strategically left the window open to rejoining the program at their choosing if all their requirements were met.

I believe the SU-57 now meets most, if not all, of the IAF's requirements, and it is a much better option than any MRFA aircraft.

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

India must consider F-35, KF-21, and Su-57/Su-75. Atleast 36 of them in 1st tranche, then based on Tejas mk2 and AMAC progress.

Will need 36 more of Rafale too in the next 5 years.

The Tejas mk1a itself is atleast 5 years away from full deployment of 83 jets, and not sure 97 more make sense anymore As that will take 10 more years to come.

as AMCA is atleast 10 years away from production and 20 years for deployment., going by the Tejas mk1a fiasco,

and surely Tejas mk2 is atleast 5 years away from production and 10 years for deployment/operations.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

I believe the SU-57 now meets most, if not all, of the IAF's requirements, and it is a much better option than any MRFA aircraft.

You believe, and the IAF doesn't. I am not undermining you here, but leave the expert's job to experts. If the IAF really wanted the Russian Su-57, they would have gone for a direct government-to-government deal. There is a reason they are calling for MRFA every year. Because they believe 4th-gen western jets are better than 5th-gen Russian jets. For a long time, Russia has been way behind in radar and sensors, which is a main characteristic of a stealth plane. Then, their engine fan blades are fully seen from the front; it doesn't have S-shaped ducts. These planes are good-looking, maneuverable 4.5-gen fighter jets.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

Don't buy into Western propaganda. The SU-57 is plenty stealthy enough for our requirements, especially with terrain masking in the LAC area. The only imperative is the AL-41 engine.

SU 57 seems to have decent stealth in the frontal arc. Not so in the rear - those exposed engines would light up any decent radar.

 

[Diganta Ghosh]

I don't think India will buy Su-57, we might settle for Su-75 if the program is ready and proven

 

[Chinese eater]

Hire old German, Russian engineers to accelerate the AMCA program

 

[Mango_Indian]

Su-57 is India's ONLY TICKET to a mature 5th gen fighter aircraft at a reasonable cost. Given the state of the Russians, a deep Technology Transfer and good pricing can also be negotiated. The price we will be paying for 26 Naval Rafales will be more than 52 Su-57s at the very least. This with the current fleet strengths of the IAF should make it a no-brainer. Cherry on top is HAL production and quality standards.

Be practical and realistic - buy 5/6 squadrons of Su-57.

 

[R. Singh]

IAF experts and Sukhoi team should sort out 43+ improvements asked by India then only we should buy 40-60 SU-57 (I) if maximum issues resolved then order additional 60 ! This will not impact our AMCA program !

 

[123Stormtrooper]

Su57 is 4.75g. su57e will be 4.5g. No alternative to AMCA.

 

[Mohamed Suleiman]

True. Absolutely. There is a long track record of US letting down India and other countries and forcefully backing out of firm commitment. Besides, Russian s57 is a technologically superior platform, anytime. American f35 is known to require frequent expensive maintenence costs, which is obligatory to be carried out by Americans, at their convenience. So please to the devil you know.

 

[prasant kumar shaarma]

SU 57 may not be a good 5th generation fighter plane, but is certainly better than most of the options available under MRFA.
So we must consider their proposal.

 

[atul sharma]

I think India should consider buying 36 SU 57 to counter Pakistan who is going to induct Chinese j31 in coming two years. This is how India will not loose it's strategic air superiority over Pakistan and meanwhike India should continue to develop it's 5.5 generation AMCA without any headache. So it will be a smart move to induct 36 SU57 and 72 more Rafale from france.

 

[Nikolai Krustev]

Su-57 is India's ONLY TICKET to a mature 5th gen fighter aircraft at a reasonable cost. Given the state of the Russians, a deep Technology Transfer and good pricing can also be negotiated. The price we will be paying for 26 Naval Rafales will be more than 52 Su-57s at the very least. This with the current fleet strengths of the IAF should make it a no-brainer. Cherry on top is HAL production and quality standards.

Be practical and realistic - buy 5/6 squadrons of Su-57.

There is nothing mature about Su-57. 52? Are you kidding - the Russians cannot build that number for themselves. Do you know how many components will have to be smuggled from the West for those?

 

[Rokuth]

Russia had not been a reliable partner, especially with military aircraft. They will sell the aircraft, but the support in MRO has always been lacking. Hasn't India learnt this with the FGFA, and with INS Vikramaditya?

 

[Anuj]

India should skip Rafale and go for Su-57 with clause to replace some items locally with radar and weapon integration with Brahmos model.
Tejas Mk2 will be good replacement of Rafale.

 

[rtnguy]

I had said earlier and saying it again. GE engines will make Tejas and AMCA a lemon and French engines are not coming. We need 2 more squadrons of Rafale and 4 squadrons of Su 57 and cancel MMRCA. On top we need to make AMCA a single engine plane based on ALF51.

 

[War is good for business]

There is a reason the IAF has gotten out of this program after just 3 years, and I hope you understand. The IAF at least understands it's not Western propaganda. Russia, with all its contributions to our armed forces, has heavily extracted money for the Su-30 program. They literally saved their company after the Su-30 deal with India. They want the same thing with the Su-57. The Su-57 is not a stealthy plane; the KF-51, being a 4.5 gen, has better stealth characteristics than this Su-57. The government should fully focus on the Mk1A production rate, Mk2, and AMCA rollout. Recent reports suggest the Mk2 will be out in 2025, and AMCA in 2026, 2027. Nothing beyond that. The only thing beyond that we should focus on is the engine.

The IAF had the issue that the stealth could have been better, the AL-51 was still in development, so IAF understandably wasn't enthusiastic, AMCA was also in sight, but now the situation is different. Let it not be a true Fifth Gen aircraft but by adding the Virupakhya upgrades it will be the most advanced 4++ gen aircraft and fulfill the MRFA conditions.

 

[PKPRS]

SU 57 seems to have decent stealth in the frontal arc. Not so in the rear - those exposed engines would light up any decent radar.

AL-51 is a stealth engine with very low RCS, Russians are blocking even that, earlier it only had frontal stealth, now with this new engine and rear design changes it has become equivalent to similar 5th gen jets or may be even a steap ahead.

 

[Muthukumar Ponnambalam]

Hire old German, Russian engineers to accelerate the AMCA program

Or at least as a first step, invite retired Indian origin experts who worked on the fighter jet and engine projects from the top US companies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Pratt and Whitney, GE etc. without inviting any legal or conflicts of interest, as consultants.

But then, PMO should bring these projects under its direct supervision. Our choking red tapism shouldn't frustrate and drive them away.

 

[Vikas Yadav]

The SU-57 is not a true stealth fighter. Also, there are a lot of compromises if the IAF plans to buy Russian jets, including possible sanction issues from the US and other Western allies. Strategically, we should focus on unmanned aircraft, as Elon Musk said, future war will be based on artificial intelligence/machine learning/advanced drone technology.

Also, SU-57 build quality is reportedly poor, as Chinese social media floated a lot of photography which also shows shortcomings of the fighter jet. India already asked Russia for 43 improvements and changes to a lot of parameters, including radar, EW suite, and engine thrust.

The SU-57 is just a 4th generation+ and not up to F-35/F-22 standards. India's best option is to upgrade the existing 144 Super Sukhoi level with BrahMos-A/Astra Mk3 missiles, buy another 114 Rafale jets, and make 180 Tejas and 120 AMCA.

It is better to participate and make an alliance with the UK/Japan and Italy to make a true 5th-generation fighter jet like Tempest. The 6th-gen fighter jet concept features next-gen power and aeros.