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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is actively modernising its combat doctrine by creating a powerful combination of advanced air defence and next-generation offensive capabilities.
A potential deal for Russia's Su-57E fifth-generation stealth fighter, when paired with the already inducted S-400 Triumf air defence system, could fundamentally shift the military balance in South Asia towards India.
This strategic pairing is poised to create a significant technological and tactical advantage that would present an unprecedented challenge to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and its largely Chinese-supplied fleet.
India has already operationalised several regiments of the S-400 system following a multi-billion dollar agreement with Russia. These systems are strategically positioned to create a formidable defensive network against aerial threats.
The S-400 is capable of detecting and destroying a wide range of targets—including fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and both cruise and ballistic missiles—from a distance of up to 400 kilometres.
Its advanced radar and multiple missile types allow it to track and engage dozens of threats at the same time, forming a near-impenetrable shield over a vast area of airspace.
For the Pakistan Air Force, the presence of the S-400 presents a grave operational problem. Its primary combat aircraft, which include the American F-16s and the Chinese-made J-10CE and JF-17 fighters, are non-stealthy and would be vulnerable to detection and engagement by the S-400 long before they could reach their targets within India.
Under such conditions, any large-scale aerial assault would face a high risk of failure and unsustainable losses, severely limiting the PAF's offensive options.
Complementing this defensive shield is the Su-57E, the export model of Russia's most advanced stealth fighter. The aircraft is defined by its fifth-generation characteristics, including a design that minimises its radar signature, highly advanced avionics, exceptional agility (supermanoeuvrability), and the capacity to carry a potent arsenal of long-range precision weapons.
Should the IAF induct the Su-57E, it would serve as the primary tool for penetrating contested airspace, capable of conducting deep strikes against high-value targets while avoiding enemy radar systems.
The true strength of this strategy lies in the seamless integration of these two platforms.
The S-400 would function as a "shield," denying enemy aircraft access to Indian skies and protecting critical national assets. Meanwhile, the Su-57E would act as a "sword," using its stealth features to bypass enemy air defences and neutralise threats in their own territory
This combined capability would effectively box in the PAF, as its aircraft would be threatened by the S-400 near the border and hunted by the Su-57E over their own airspace.
This new reality would likely nullify Pakistan's strategy of compensating for a technological gap with a larger number of aircraft. The wide surveillance net of the S-400 and the stealthy penetration of the Su-57E would undermine the effectiveness of massed formations of 4.5-generation jets.
Furthermore, the psychological impact of facing such an advanced and layered threat would act as a powerful deterrent, restricting the PAF's confidence and operational freedom.
To counter this combination effectively, Pakistan would require its own fleet of stealth aircraft and sophisticated electronic warfare systems—a technological leap that remains many years away.
If India successfully fields both systems, the IAF would establish a level of air superiority in the region that would be exceptionally difficult to challenge.
