Russia Plans to Propose G2G Sale of 60-70 Su-57E 5th-Gen Fighter Jets to India During Putin Visit

Russia is preparing to offer India a substantial Government-to-Government (G2G) deal for the sale of 60-70 Su-57E fifth-generation fighter jets during President Vladimir Putin's anticipated visit in early 2025, according to sources familiar with the matter.

This proposal marks a renewed Russian effort to deepen defence cooperation with India, particularly in the realm of advanced combat aircraft, following India's withdrawal from the joint Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program in 2018.

The proposed deal comes as the Indian Air Force (IAF) grapples with a concerning depletion of its combat squadron strength, currently below the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. Russian officials have indicated that the offer aims to address this shortfall by providing a swift infusion of advanced air power, with a suggested number of 60-70 Su-57E jets.

The Su-57E is the export variant of the Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name: Felon), a single-seat, twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft designed for air superiority and attack operations. Developed by Sukhoi, part of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, the Su-57 is touted as a stealth-capable aircraft with supercruise, super-maneuverability, and advanced avionics to overcome prior generation fighter aircraft as well as ground and naval defenses.

The jets offered to India are slated to be equipped with the advanced AL-51F engines. These engines are being promoted as true fifth-generation powerplants, promising enhanced thrust-to-weight ratio, fuel efficiency, and stealth characteristics.

Russia is reportedly prepared to offer the Su-57E at a price point significantly lower than that of the French Dassault Rafale, a 4.5-generation twin-engine fighter already in service with the IAF.

This competitive pricing, combined with the advanced capabilities of the Su-57E, could make the Russian offer attractive to the Indian defence establishment, which is constantly evaluating options to modernize its military hardware.

To meet the potential demand, Russia is actively expanding its Su-57 production capabilities. Sources suggest that annual production is slated to increase from the current 15 units to 25 units in the coming years, potentially enabling faster delivery schedules for any potential Indian order.

The offer represents a revival of Russian efforts to engage India in high-end defence technology transfers, following the collapse of the ambitious FGFA project.

The FGFA program, intended to develop a tailored two-seat variant of the Su-57 for the IAF, was abandoned by India in 2018 due to concerns regarding delays, escalating costs, technology transfer issues, and whether the platform truly met fifth-generation fighter specifications. According to open sources, the FGFA project was estimated to cost over $6 billion.

Russian officials have been actively lobbying for the Su-57E since then, emphasizing the aircraft's advancements and arguing that it now meets India's stringent requirements for a next-generation combat platform.

While the Su-57 made its maiden flight in 2010, full-scale production was delayed due to technical difficulties. The aircraft first saw combat during the Syrian civil war in 2018, and has reportedly been used in the ongoing war in Ukraine. It officially entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in December 2020.

The proposal also arrives at a crucial juncture for the IAF, which is looking for interim solutions to bolster its air power while its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, aimed at developing a domestic fifth-generation fighter, is still in the development phase. The first flight of the AMCA is not expected until at least 2027, with service entry not anticipated until the 2030s. An acquisition of the Su-57E could potentially serve as a stop-gap measure until the AMCA is fully operational.

The potential sale of the Su-57E to India will be closely watched by global defence analysts, as it could significantly impact the regional balance of power and shape the future of Indo-Russian defence ties. The deal's success hinges on various factors, including the final price, technology transfer agreements, and India's assessment of the Su-57E's capabilities in relation to its operational requirements and the evolving geopolitical landscape.

 

[GMR]

@Hugo Sanchez
What are ur options for IAF to meet a 3 front war? And hostilities will not give u 3 yr. Notice to start

 

[Hugo Sanchez]

@Hugo Sanchez
What are ur options for IAF to meet a 3 front war? And hostilities will not give u 3 yr. Notice to start

2 Front war is a different story altogether, which opens different scenarios and options for India.
West will not let that happen. equipment, even pilots, technicians will be provided by west, if India will need in case of a 2 front war.
India need air-superiority more in case of no war no peace situation. Pakis want air superiority not cuz they want to start a war, or they fear a war by India.
They want it cuz, they want to execute their pushing terrorist in India strategy and if India attacks via IAF, they want to be prepared and discourage this.

 

[Jagroshan singh]

The problem is su57 can be said mostly a 4.75 gen jet.

1. Its inception was not as a pure stealth jet as russian philosophy is they want to depend more on close combats. Maybe it can out maneuver f22 if it gets new engines.
2. It dont have cutting edge BVR. Even WVR is not upto date.
3. Engine is not there.
4. Some defense personal commented that its not well made, when it was show cased in some chinese defense expo.

If we will go for su57, we will be buying a white elephant, and its upgrades, which can make it comparable will be comming from Indias pocket, and it will take years. Maybe AMCA will make its first flight before.
P.S - Not saying waiting for AMCA is wise

I have some counters

1. Whatever information we know about Su-57 props and mostly cons is originated from western media only. And obviously they are biased.
2. Su-57 we saw flying around are prototype variants, so one should not expect a production grade quality. Recently we have seen Russians trying to integrate flat nozzels for engine exhaust.

 

[Hugo Sanchez]

I have some counters

1. Whatever information we know about Su-57 props and mostly cons is originated from western media only. And obviously they are biased.
2. Su-57 we saw flying around are prototype variants, so one should not expect a production grade quality. Recently we have seen Russians trying to integrate flat nozzels for engine exhaust.

First of all.

• Russia following in the path of soviets is masterful propagandist, their propaganda dont find much traction is cuz absense of people to people connect.
• Maybe you are new here. But i'm following Su57, pak fa, fgfa saga from even before India-russia deal fell through.

And one of the reason IAF was not impressed from what they saw how fgfa being conceptualized. Here we are talking about an airforce which want every new shiny tool out there.
Before that i used to argue for how great the fgfa will be.

• In defense expos, you want to impress to sell, either your production su57 is grounded for technical reasons or facing a huge ground time.
• Their engines are in development phase from eternity. And it will be the headache of the buyer to finance and suffer till they get izdeliye engine.

The proof how inconsequential su 57 is russia dont have air superiority over a country like ukraine (with no airforce).
Su30mki as the jet in present time is the labor of IAF.

 

[Srinivas Nirmal Kumar Avula]

INDIA must make it clear to Russia & USA that it was not interested to buy 5.5 or 6 th generation fighter aircrafts from them. otherwise they keep on sending proposals to sell them to India & like this we forever always dependent on them for spareparts.
If India wants to have independent voice in world affairs then this import dependency om other countries for critical parts must end

 

[beencensured]

Wonderful news.

Now its slowly becoming clear that our DPSUs can not produce a 5th generation fighter jet in-house.

All those articles about how AMCA will be ultra stealthy and how it will be a wonder-weapon to rule the earth were pure bollocks.!!

I see a repeat of Su-30 MKI happening in the 5th generation aircraft space as well.

The AMCA program is at a stage that it will not be canceled, but the GOI is realizing late what it should have realized and planned: to start ordering aircraft in 2014 for adequate numbers today. Another quick band-aid fix without any near-term cure. For example, the Americans and Chinese planned and realized that India announced six nuclear attack submarines, then America created AUKUS and is trying to achieve a two-plus submarines a year production rate. So is China following, increasing its rate of production, but then India's Modi government slacks, and now they change from an announced six to two. By the way, the Indian submarines cost nearly the same as the Americans'. The world reacts, anticipates risk, and mitigates those risks. Modi's "chalta hai" attitude, with his bygone colonial-era babus eating chai and samosas, lording around living like it's before the era of satellites, radio, and electricity, having half-wit advisors...

 

[Bhupesh Desai]

India should take it for 2 squadrons with ToT and use this technology to leapfrog AMCA.

 

[desigandu]

The Chinese bought 36 Su-35S jets just for their engine and other technology to reverse engineer it - could that be an option, say 36 Su-57s but with AL-51 engines and integration of Indian weapons and radar with MRO and some TOT etc.! Could be expensive but the Russians seem desperate and may cut a deal - we should also get the zircon HCM tech and maybe Orenshik FOB if possible! But it will definitely be cheaper than Rafales (which will be around $250M per jet) under MRFA which can be reduced to about 90 - which in any case won’t start before 2032, whereas Russia may supply 36 Su-57s before 2030!

It is good that Russia is a pariah with the west and has limited markets which means Bharat can push harder and get good military, space and nuclear tech while buying lots of cheap oil! Ukraine war and tensions in Taiwan and SCS actually bolster Bharat’s importance with the west! We must exploit it and grow faster to $10T GDP by 2035, with a commensurate Military budget!

 

[Surendra Barsode]

India has to recover some 300 million USD which it paid to Russia earlier for participating in the Su 50 program. So in case Russian offer covers this aspect and Su 57 is cheapest of all and there is TOT with local production of AL 51 engines, then it is a good deal under MRFA.

 

[Rational Guy]

I think India should go with 20-30 SU57E and 30-40 Rafales. This should make us be in a decent position until AMCA comes in 2035.

 

[beencensured]

The Chinese bought 36 Su-35S jets just for their engine and other technology to reverse engineer it - could that be an option, say 36 Su-57s but with AL-51 engines and integration of Indian weapons and radar with MRO and some TOT etc.! Could be expensive but the Russians seem desperate and may cut a deal - we should also get the zircon HCM tech and maybe Orenshik FOB if possible! But it will definitely be cheaper than Rafales (which will be around $250M per jet) under MRFA which can be reduced to about 90 - which in any case won’t start before 2032, whereas Russia may supply 36 Su-57s before 2030!

It is good that Russia is a pariah with the west and has limited markets which means Bharat can push harder and get good military, space and nuclear tech while buying lots of cheap oil! Ukraine war and tensions in Taiwan and SCS actually bolster Bharat’s importance with the west! We must exploit it and grow faster to $10T GDP by 2035, with a commensurate Military budget!

Unfortunately, our bureaucratic country is too sticky and not flexible in encouraging indigenous development. They still live in the time of Nehru and Indira, who believed that Indians were incapable, though wireless communication/semiconductors were invented and first used by Jagadish Chandra Bose. Bosons, one of the most fundamental properties of nature with Bose condensation, were first identified and described by SN Bose, CV Raman, and many other greats, with India having made the first jet plane and nuclear reactor in Asia, not forgetting mathematics, knowledge of time dilation (day of Brahma), and scientific evolution written in the fossil record with a common ancestor Manu for humans, Kashyap Rishi (land animals), and Brahma (for all life forms). Unfortunately, the poor quality of the educational system, biased and bigoted with hatred toward Hindus, spews lies and not history without facts, and doesn't take a balanced view like Victorian learning from India the benefits of universal education. Their conversion system stopped and destroyed the Hindu educational system but forgets racism, genocide, feudalism, and the burning of libraries in Western and Islamic cultures. We have seen demonstrations of J-16 engines not performing to standards as advertised by the Chinese, not matching foreign counterparts but still used. Still, China would rather use poor-performing engines that are their own, as that develops their industries. Basically, the Kaveri is ten percent less powerful than the GE-414 with 80kn wet thrust and can be used as a substitute, though it may not be ideal. Even Americans huff about the actual real performance of the GE-414 engine being less than 90kn.

 

[70sisnotagoodtimr]

The Russians especially after the war, are nothing but the prostitute of China. The Pakistanis cannot seriously threaten us in war, the Chinese can, in case of war with China, the Chinese will certainly arm-twist Russia to stop help.
The us will be the only ally available then, thus if you actually need to fight and have capability India will need to buy the f35 3-5 squadrons, not more to prevent the killing of other programs. Let me remind you this is not the 1970s where the soviets came to help, this is Russia over half a century in the future.
Another thing people leave out is how the soviets stopped supplies in 1962, and Nehru begged Kennedy, China essentially realizing us involvement, backed off.
In conclusion the su57 is an inferior product, barely stealth, and are not willing to share critical tech, this is what our own people concluded of the pak-fa project, not even talking about how they scammed India in that project, the su30 and the aircraft carrier transfer.
Even a limited fielding of the f35 will put shivers down the Chinese and the Pakistanis, I say 3-5 squadrons, will buy us time until amca.