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.

 

[Arvind Sharma]

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.

Now this is day dreaming. The planners could not visualise the disruption in supply chain of F404, post OEM switching production to F414. No effort was made to procure at least 50% of intended number of engines, perhaps they either did not expect Tejas Mk1 to be series production ready or wanted to throttle back its production so that IAF firstly becomes weak and secondly wanted the IAF/Govt to go for desperate measures to arrest the decreasing number of Fighters/Sqn.
GE will politely eat away 2025 as well.

 

[moorthytm]

should proceed at least 4 sqn of 57 ( 2sqn each at w estern and eastern theatre), reckon the AMCA will only be availabe in 2040 loking at HAL timelienes, Modi was hibernating on the nrfa past 10years and like a fool succumb to DRDO and HAL on the dysfunctional timelines on Tejas and now IAF facing the consequences, %& should literally replace Mig 29, bring in Lockeed Martin to expedite amca, like koreans to their boramae

 

[Foxbat]

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.

Aiya Muthukumaran, you made good suggestion that 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
but that is not happening. These engineers have worked in the US in an environment with great emphasis on time management which is a by product of solid foresight, planning, putting together essential advanced technologies and executing project development in a timely manner is the essence to roll out of prototype more or less with slight variations on the projected date. I am not sure what is the problems in HAL management apart from the GE F404 engine due to global supply chain causing the delays in the deliveries missing the projected timeline. So with the management in question I doubt the retired Indian origin experts who worked on the fighter jet and engine would like to participate. The other thing is that, HAL are they willing to offer a pay package even as advisers to fighter programmes with HAL. What HAL badly need now is to have a clear foresight of a project before going to the drawing board. It's crucial in any new project is to put together all the technology requirements from the end users in advance by having several rounds of meetings to discuss with high level IAF senior officers and do the planning. The procurement process should commence well ahead of the projected timeline to avoid hiccups in development stage. Just my thoughts.

 

[subrat beura]

India should pursue Trump to provide F35 to check Chinese influence in IOR

 

[Capt Mahendra]

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.

This is a very sensible step to take as even the payment is offrered in Indian rupees. And IAF needs urgently to equip itself with an stealthy fighter on a fast track to Stop our adversary china and Pakistan who gang up to grab an opportunity to see India down. Hope the decision makers take note of urgency and the very good offer. India can also bargain for technology transfer too to manufacture jointly as we do in bramhos, in similar terms it will be a game Changer and a restraint to Pakistan+Bangladesh and China the three jackals around India. We need to learn from israel 🙏. Unfortunately we have lots of Jaichands within India also to deal with as Gen Bipin Rawat said it's 2 and half war.

 

[Ron]

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.

You are right! The Su-57 is till date the only stealth fighter plane that has seen combat against peers. Su-57 were used to successfully take out Ukrainian planes in contested skies. Neither the Ukrainian air defences nor the Ukrainian fighter planes were able to spot it. This was also confirmed by Ukrainian pilots. The F-22 has only been used against sandal wearing jihadist. The F-35 is good but brings along more problems than solutions. Not to mention that to purchase it would mean to be a slave of the USA. The Su-57 is rugged and cheaper comparatively and the best part is that it is continuously evolving and being improved upon. The Russians are developing a new stealthy engine for it and have patented a few dual pilot cockpit designs. Let's see. Atleast better than buying a bunch of F-16s and F-15s and Gripens and Su-35s.

 

[sarvabowma]

If the offer is for the engine too or just the body?