Russia Sweetens Su-57E Offer to India with S-70 Okhotnik-B Heavy Combat Drone Integration, Providing MUMT Deep-Strike Capabilities to IAF

In a significant proposal aimed at strengthening its long-standing defence partnership with India, Russia has formally offered its Su-57E fifth-generation stealth fighter jet packaged with the advanced S-70 Okhotnik-B heavy combat drone.

According to Russian sources, the offer centres on creating a Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) system, designed to equip the Indian Air Force (IAF) with formidable deep-strike capabilities by allowing the fighter and drone to operate together on complex missions.

The Su-57E is the export model of Russia's Su-57 "Felon," a twin-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed for air-to-air and air-to-ground warfare.

As Russia's first operational stealth fighter, it boasts features such as supercruise (the ability to fly at sustained supersonic speeds without using afterburners), advanced avionics, and an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

The aircraft is marketed as a direct competitor to Western counterparts like the American F-35.

For the IAF, which operates a large fleet of over 270 Russian-made Su-30MKI jets, adopting the Su-57E could offer a smoother technological transition and logistical advantages.

A key element of this new package is the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B, a stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).

Built with a "flying wing" design and extensive use of composite materials and radar-absorbent coatings, the Okhotnik is engineered for low observability.

Weighing approximately 20 tonnes with a wingspan of around 20 metres (65 feet), the drone shares engine types with other Russian fighters.

It is powered by either the AL-31F engine, which is used in India's current Su-30MKI fleet, or the more modern AL-41F from the Su-57. This potential for engine commonality could significantly simplify maintenance and supply chains for the IAF.

The true innovation in the Russian offer lies in the teaming of these two platforms.

The Okhotnik-B is designed to serve as a loyal wingman, controlled by the pilot of the Su-57E. This MUMT configuration allows the drone to fly into heavily contested airspace to conduct intelligence gathering, surveillance, electronic warfare, or precision strikes with its internal payload capacity of up to 2.8 tonnes.

With a reported combat range of 6,000 km, the Okhotnik-B can penetrate deep into enemy territory to neutralize high-value targets like air defence systems, command bunkers, and critical infrastructure, all while reducing the risk to the manned fighter jet.

Recent tests in Russia have reportedly focused on the drone engaging targets under the Su-57's command, validating the concept.

This proposal arrives in the context of India's evolving security landscape.

The offer's emphasis on deep-strike capabilities is particularly relevant following recent regional events, such as the IAF's successful "Operation Sindoor" in May 2025. This retaliatory campaign, launched after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, saw IAF Rafale jets effectively bypass Pakistani air defences.

The operation highlighted the increasing importance of sophisticated electronic warfare and stand-off weapons in modern conflict, exposing vulnerabilities in Chinese-made air defence systems and missiles used by Pakistan.

The Su-57E and Okhotnik-B combination is being presented as a direct counter to advanced air defence networks, such as China's HQ-9 system deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Pakistan's planned acquisition of Turkey's SİPER system.

By enabling the IAF to strike targets from a distance with a high degree of stealth, this MUMT capability could significantly enhance India's strategic deterrence and offensive power, shaping the security dynamics across the region.

 

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[Senapati]

India needs stealth fighter Su57 with 177S stealth engine.
We do not need S70 stealth drone as we have our project UCAV with Kaveri dry KDE.
We may take technical consultancy fron Russia on our UCAV based on there experience on S70.

 

[Mc Addy]

Yes , but where will it be used , in dreams? So either warn Pakistan no to buy Chinese Stealth or buy and use this to destroy Pakistan military forever. Consider Pakistani purchase of Stealth as act of war ,nothing less as it asked for Ceasefire, then it goes for buying stealth. We have a non sense , rat dropping , chameleon military policy towards Pakistan.

 

[Lakshman_322]

The 177S is still not a VCE design. So with advancement in radars, the Su57 won't be stealth anymore. The F35 being identified in Indian civil air space is proof enough.

India should just focus on Al 51F engines for its Su 30 planes with 3d vector nozzles and upgrades in avionics. Make their aging fleet more relevant.

 

[sanket]

Great news! I have already said the Su-57 will come with a drone called Okhotnik-B. Every word I've said is becoming true. Big developments are happening.

The US will return empty-handed from MRFA; that's for sure. No CAATSA fear whatsoever; it would be a fearless deal. The Su-57 deal will be complimentary with the Super Sukhoi upgrade, with Russia likely to be a consultant for AMCA fine-tuning automatically. The F-35 lacks these features.

First, the F-35 is not a true fifth-gen fighter jet. F-22 + F-35 = Su-57 (22 + 35 = 57). Both configurations are in one fighter jet. It's all over for the F-35 and its fanboys; they can have chai samosa watching the Su-57.

I have several times said Su-57 tech/features can be incorporated into the Super Sukhoi and some indigenously developed DRDO tech/features into the Su-57, a customized variant. There is no chance for another variety of fighter jet due to logistic issues and weapons packages. The US will not allow the integration of third-party weapons and interoperability of the F-35 with S-400 and S-500, as Bharat is likely to purchase more S-400 regiments along with the S-500. Bye bye F-35.

 

[ddzz13687]

India should get the Su-57 with advanced engines with flat engine nozzles, TOT, and source code. Russia can be chosen as a consultant for MUM-T drones for improvising the features and technology.

 

[king dorm]

Unless we are confident that our economy and defence industry would survive a sanction by CAATSA, we are not going for SU-57, period. Let's not forget our entire Tejas Mk1 program depends on American engines; even our Mk2 program depends on American engines. If we face sanctions from USA, it would be devastating.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Unless we are confident that our economy and defence industry would survive a sanction by CAATSA, we are not going for SU-57, period. Let's not forget our entire Tejas Mk1 program depends on American engines; even our Mk2 program depends on American engines. If we face sanctions from USA, it would be devastating.

Algeria has also agreed to buy Su57. They have not been hit with CATSA.. and India has already received a waiver once.
I dont think we need to worry too much about it. We could just agree to buy few billion dollars worth of american equipment if they threat us with sanction.

 

[king dorm]

Algeria has also agreed to buy Su57. They have not been hit with CATSA.. and India has already received a waiver once.
I dont think we need to worry too much about it. We could just agree to buy few billion dollars worth of american equipment if they threat us with sanction.

That waiver was because S-400 is a defensive item, not offensive. We haven't bought many offensive items from Russia since CAATSA went into effect in 2017.

 

[Parveen Gahlot]

As I say all the time, buy Su-57 under MRFA or standalone with at least 4-5 squadrons with S-70 Okhotnik-B drones. Try to get ToT for S-70 Okhotnik-B drones as well, as this will further enhance our experience.

As far as CAATSA is concerned, Trump is only interested in business, so we need to give him some orders for their products, and he will be quite happy.

We also need to quickly complete the deal with RR for the engine and focus on our own AMCA, which is very important for us.

 

[Sandeep]

The SU-57 is the second best stealth jet in the world and while it’s not as good as the F35 it still has a lot of advanced technology, equipment and weapons.

If we are going to order a small batch of advanced 4.5th generation jet like the Rafale or 5th generation stealth jets then we should consider leasing 1-2 squadrons for about 5-10 years. This will give us the offensive firepower that we need but without having to pay billions. This will give us enough time for more Tejas MK1A jets produced and inducted on the frontline. By then we would have manufactured several prototypes of Tejas MK2 and AMCA which would have completed their long running tests and production would have started by then. This would save us billions from foreign expensive imports which can be spent on concentrating and 100% indigenously designing, developing and manufacturing our own jets.

As for the drones we are already developing the CATS program which will allow us to pair it with our existing jets. It will have a variety of drones and will include an armed stealth drone which will operate perfectly between the AMCA. While the Russian Okhotnik is much larger and can carry a huge amount of heavy weight missiles and bombs India is developing the medium size stealth UCAV Ghatak which can carry a few amount of missiles and bombs so we don’t need the Okhotnik drone at all.

 

[Thyhandsonus Lyngdoh]

All of you are obsessed with the Su-57 and dunking the F-35. Use your brains and read why India jumped ship in the first place. It did not meet requirements. And do you really expect Russia to meet our demands when it cannot meet its own demands in... like a decade? Lol, no. Improving long-range standoff weapons and anti-air defence systems is the way.

 

[EMD XD41/06MAC]

All of you are obsessed with the Su-57 and dunking the F-35. Use your brains and read why India jumped ship in the first place. It did not meet requirements. And do you really expect Russia to meet our demands when it cannot meet its own demands in... like a decade? Lol, no. Improving long-range standoff weapons and anti-air defence systems is the way.

Then why is even Su-57 making a massive comeback? We might even get these with the AL-51 if you need! Currently, we too have engine commonality with the AL-31 and AL-41!

 

[bks78]

India should just stick to 40 Su57 with new engine under full TOT just as stop gap arrangements till out AMCA is ready.

 

[Thyhandsonus Lyngdoh]

Then why is even Su-57 making a massive comeback? We might even get these with the AL-51 if you need! Currently, we too have engine commonality with the AL-31 and AL-41!

Interesting to see talk of a "massive Su-57M comeback" after so many years. Considering the aircraft was originally slated for full production over a decade ago, the current status—with only a limited number in service and most still using the AL-41 engine—suggests that optimism might be a bit premature.

The Izdeliye 30 (AL-51F) engine is certainly ambitious on paper, but it is still undergoing trials and has not entered full-rate production yet. It is also worth noting that while India does operate AL-31 and AL-41 variants on the Su-30MKI, the AL-51 is a completely new design, with limited overlap in logistics or maintenance. Engine commonality is often more nuanced than it appears in brochures.

As for the broader ecosystem—AI integration and manned-unmanned teaming—those remain aspirational. The unfortunate incident with the S-70 Okhotnik drone, which had to be brought down and was later found by Ukraine with questionable stealth features, highlights how early some of these technologies still are.

And of course, India's own experience with the FGFA project offers some perspective. While the intent was strong, the lack of access to critical technologies and the unclear performance benchmarks led to a difficult but necessary decision to move on.