Russia Revives Push to Sell Su-57 Fighter Jets to India As Country Pursues Domestic Program

Russia is making a renewed push to sell its Su-57 stealth fighter jet to India, even after the Indian Air Force (IAF) recently greenlit its own indigenous fighter program. According to reports, Russia is keen to showcase the Su-57 in India, but the motivations behind the move remain unclear.

This renewed interest from Russia comes years after India withdrew from the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program, a collaborative effort to develop an Su-57 variant specifically designed for the IAF. The program ultimately failed due to disagreements over technology, cost, and developmental direction.

India's recent commitment to the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a domestically developed 5th-generation fighter, has emphasized the country's ambition for self-reliance in defense technology. This focus on indigenous production seems to complicate Russia's attempts to revive interest in the Su-57.

Previous endeavors to sell India on the single-engine Su-75 fighter jet were also unsuccessful, with the IAF reportedly showing limited interest. It remains open whether Russia's latest efforts will be sufficient to change India's stance on acquiring 5th-generation fighter jets.

Russia's motivations behind its renewed pursuit of the Su-57 program in India are uncertain. The IAF's apparent preference for domestically developed solutions leaves the future of a potential Su-57 deal in serious question.

 

[Akshat]

As Boeing is ending production of F18 in 2027, wonder what will happen if Boeing offers them for the base price of $55 Million each, among these options F16 is still the cheapest and have near similar payload carrying capability as Rafale and will also be available faster compared to other options, but free foreign watches might alter the decision making.

Not even close. Plus it failed the trials already last time.

 

[Akshat]

There are, atleast on paper, eight contenders for MRFA: The F-16 / F-21, F-15EX, F-18, Rafale, Typhoon, Gripen, Su-35, and MiG-35.

Of these, the F-18 is automatically eliminated by dint of being at the end of production. The Su-35 is automatically eliminated since it is too similar to our Su-30MKI, and we could simply go for more Su-30MKIs for simpler operations if the need existed. The MiG-35 is also eliminated since it is a renamed modernised MiG-29.

That leaves five contenders. Of these, four are medium-weight fighters, and the F-15EX is a heavy fighter, which reduces it's chances.

Between the 4 medium fighters, the Gripen is too similar to the Tejas Mk 2, so it has a lower chance. The Rafale, Typhoon, and F-16 are evenly matched in many aspects, with both the Rafale and the Typhoon being more expensive. The Typhoon is also manufacture by a consortium of multiple nations, which can become a headache.

As such, you see it quickly devolves down to a race between the Rafale and F-16, with the Gripen, Typhoon, and F-15EX trailing somewhat behind.

I doubt F16/F21 is going to be cheaper. Taiwan, which already uses F16, paid over 120 million per jet. No training, offsets or weapons included. UAE is getting Rafale for ~200 million USD. In fact, LM’s Undia chief himself refused to call F21 cheaper when directly asked about it. He simply said ‘Don’t just look at acquisition cost, look at long term benefits and synergy and blah blah’.

 

[Akshat]

We can’t wait for 10-15 years to get Rafale, our MK2 and even AMCA will be ready by that time.

36 months only for Rafale. Mk2 ain’t coming till 2040 at least in the other hand if left to HAL.

 

[WarTech]

36 months only for Rafale. Mk2 ain’t coming till 2040 at least in the other hand if left to HAL.

Bruh, stop your French fanboyism and start looking at reality. There is no way we are gonna get Rafale in 36 months. They have a massive backlog and would take atleast 8 years to produce MFRA jets thanks to their dismal production rate of 20 jets per year.

 

[WarTech]

I doubt F16/F21 is going to be cheaper. Taiwan, which already uses F16, paid over 120 million per jet. No training, offsets or weapons included. UAE is getting Rafale for ~200 million USD. In fact, LM’s Undia chief himself refused to call F21 cheaper when directly asked about it. He simply said ‘Don’t just look at acquisition cost, look at long term benefits and synergy and blah blah’.

It would be still cheaper than Rafale bruh.

 

[WarTech]

Even Chinese j20/31/35 better 5th gen aircraft with ws engine then russian one .... ..

While indeed J20 is better 5th gen jet than Su57, it's because it stole a lot of stealth tech from US. China has the worst engines when compared to other fifth gen planes.

 

[Akshat]

It would be still cheaper than Rafale bruh.

Unlikely. Rafale second tranche, with weapons and offsets, costed Egypt 150 million USD around the same time US charged 120+ millions from Taiwan without any offsets or weapons. Plus the deliveries are faster as well for Rafale.

 

[Akshat]

Bruh, stop your French fanboyism and start looking at reality. There is no way we are gonna get Rafale in 36 months. They have a massive backlog and would take atleast 8 years to produce MFRA jets thanks to their dismal production rate of 20 jets per year.

Please tell me what is the current production rate of Rafale? Dassault CEO has said that they were making 1 jet per month last year, making 2 right now and will make 3 next year. And they can move to 4 if need be. So present facts instead of being a Francophobe.

 

[desigandu]

No Russian stealth planes or other fighters - let us do AMCA properly and quickly...In an emergency we could acquire F-35s, provided we agree to a lot of US Conditions (including on S-400s)...The only fighter stuff Russia can help with is potentially upgraded engines for Super Sukhoi Phase 2 (either ALF 41s and 51s).

 

[Pink Panther]

36 months only for Rafale. Mk2 ain’t coming till 2040 at least in the other hand if left to HAL.

114+24 Rafale-M’s in 3 years, you mean Dassault can make 3.8 Rafales/ month just for us besides making 300+ Rafales for other export customers and for their own use as well, this is realistically only possible if they 3D print the Rafale.

 

[Pink Panther]

Not even close. Plus it failed the trials already last time.

not F21.

 

[WarTech]

There are, atleast on paper, eight contenders for MRFA: The F-16 / F-21, F-15EX, F-18, Rafale, Typhoon, Gripen, Su-35, and MiG-35.

Of these, the F-18 is automatically eliminated by dint of being at the end of production. The Su-35 is automatically eliminated since it is too similar to our Su-30MKI, and we could simply go for more Su-30MKIs for simpler operations if the need existed. The MiG-35 is also eliminated since it is a renamed modernised MiG-29.

That leaves five contenders. Of these, four are medium-weight fighters, and the F-15EX is a heavy fighter, which reduces it's chances.

Between the 4 medium fighters, the Gripen is too similar to the Tejas Mk 2, so it has a lower chance. The Rafale, Typhoon, and F-16 are evenly matched in many aspects, with both the Rafale and the Typhoon being more expensive. The Typhoon is also manufacture by a consortium of multiple nations, which can become a headache.

As such, you see it quickly devolves down to a race between the Rafale and F-16, with the Gripen, Typhoon, and F-15EX trailing somewhat behind.

While Rafale has higher probability of winning if the MRFA is concluded, I think it would be better if we have F-15 EX. Thanks to their ability to carry massive amounts of bombs and combining it with AWACS and other early detection systems, we would have one of the best deterrence factor in war. Add to the fact that US is building missiles for F-15 EX (AIM-260 JATM and LREW which boasts about more than 200+ km and atleast 400 km range respectively) which would surpass in range built by the Chinese PL-15 (200 km) and Meteor (200 km) and PL-17/PL-20 (Atleast 400 km). While Meteor is an answer to PL-15, they don't have any answer to PL17/PL-20. So F-15 EX would be a better jet.

 

[Pink Panther]

Su-57 is a dead duck for India !

we never know, but we won’t buy them right now, when time comes for retiring SU-30’s, that time we might go for SU-57.

 

[Pink Panther]

J-20 is ~1/2 the Xband RCS, but AL51 engine is better than WS15

way better, ws15 is a 4th gen engine, where as izdelie-30 is 5th gen.

 

[WarTech]

Unlikely. Rafale second tranche, with weapons and offsets, costed Egypt 150 million USD around the same time US charged 120+ millions from Taiwan without any offsets or weapons. Plus the deliveries are faster as well for Rafale.

Bro are you serious? Due to the massive demand for Rafales now, there will be increase in both cost and delevery time, as it can only create 20 jets per year. More demand, less supply, the basic reason for increases in cost.

 

[Pink Panther]

Well the war is here AMCA is 15 yrs away,china is already pitching j20 Pak might get the same or KAN from turkey,war and enemies will not wait for our program.2 -3 squadrons might just do the trick for us and we might be able to posture tough against adversaries

or even J20 and FC-31 when we still think about. buying 4th gen $300Mln+ Rafale.

 

[WarTech]

No Russian stealth planes or other fighters - let us do AMCA properly and quickly...In an emergency we could acquire F-35s, provided we agree to a lot of US Conditions (including on S-400s)...The only fighter stuff Russia can help with is potentially upgraded engines for Super Sukhoi Phase 2 (either ALF 41s and 51s).

We would have to loose S-400s and the close relationship with Russia for that, which is not happening. See what happened with Turkey. No fifth gen fighters for us.

 

[Pink Panther]

Also US never offered f35 also it's too costly for us to operate so 2-3 squadrons are a viable option

F35 won’t be offered with S-400 in possesion.

 

[Pink Panther]

SU57 is totally useless. Can be easily taken out by F14 Tomcat.

who told you, SU-57 is the jet that currently destroys all Ukraine Air defense Systems.

 

[WarTech]

Please tell me what is the current production rate of Rafale? Dassault CEO has said that they were making 1 jet per month last year, making 2 right now and will make 3 next year. And they can move to 4 if need be. So present facts instead of being a Francophobe.

I call b$ on that. Read this analysis:

Dassault to Ramp Up Rafale Production to Meet Rising Demand: CEO

Dassault Aviation will increase Rafale fighter jet’s monthly production from two to three by the end of 2024, CEO Eric Trapiier said.

www.thedefensepost.com

Only 13 were produced in 2023, while the goal was 15. Fifteen!
The CEO said that production could be raised to four aircraft per month if more orders are placed. Bro has 261 orders already placed and wants more. You are insanely stupid to think it would work.

 

[Akshat]

I call b$ on that. Read this analysis:

Dassault to Ramp Up Rafale Production to Meet Rising Demand: CEO

Dassault Aviation will increase Rafale fighter jet’s monthly production from two to three by the end of 2024, CEO Eric Trapiier said.

www.thedefensepost.com

Only 13 were produced in 2023, while the goal was 15. Fifteen!
The CEO said that production could be raised to four aircraft per month if more orders are placed. Bro has 261 orders already placed and wants more. You are insanely stupid to think it would work.

13 against 15. That’s almost 90% efficiency. And it is a cavalry what I said. 1 per month. So you just proved my numbers are right and then are calling me insane. Bro has enough capability to make it happen and hasn’t missed any promises so far. Unlike our HAL which has 20-30% utilization or F16 which have 7 year waiting period officially.

 

[Akshat]

Bro are you serious? Due to the massive demand for Rafales now, there will be increase in both cost and delevery time, as it can only create 20 jets per year. More demand, less supply, the basic reason for increases in cost.

That’s your assumption not a fact. Talk about facts.

 

[Akshat]

not F21.

In that case no F21 is flying or will even fly unless Undia places an order. So F16 will come for trials. And it has failed.

 

[Akshat]

114+24 Rafale-M’s in 3 years, you mean Dassault can make 3.8 Rafales/ month just for us besides making 300+ Rafales for other export customers and for their own use as well, this is realistically only possible if they 3D print the Rafale.

First plane in 3 years. We were talking about first planes. F21 isn’t available for 7 years. First plane.

 

[Rajesh]

Even Chinese j20/31/35 better 5th gen aircraft with ws engine then russian one .... ..

Don't underestimate the Russians they r far better than the Chinese . Aesthetics of Chinese weapons esp jets might be comparable to west but they can't copy the inside stuffs which requires experience and developments by themselves. Russians might also lag behind in electronic but if Russians are that bad they the west would have gone directly against Russia than use their proxy Ukrain after all it is the west's money and equipment vs Russia.