Context: Russia has offered to partner with India for the joint production of Russian fifth generation fighter aircraft Sukhoi Su-57E for the Indian Air Force.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Su-57E fighter aircraft and India’s aircraft requirements.
Major Highlights:
- Russia’s state-owned defence export company, Rosoboronexport, has proposed the localised production of the Su-57E, the export version of Russia’s fifth-generation fighter jet.
- It has also offered technological assistance for India’s indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project. It includes technology transfers related to engines, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, optics, artificial intelligence, software, and advanced weapons.
- This offer is aimed to revive the Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme between India and Russia.
- The FGFA programme was formalised in 2010. Till 2018, India spent $300 million on the project, working jointly with Russia.
- In 2018, India withdrew from the programme after key differences — disagreeable terms of transfer of technology.
- However, India is open to rejoining the programme in future.
- Russia has been the main weapons supplier to India (the world's biggest arms importer), and Russian fighter jets are a part of India's military fleet.
India’s Aircraft Fleet
- Indian Air Force (IAF) has 31 fighter squadrons as against the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, significantly below the optimal readiness requirements.
- Of the current 31 squadrons, the phase out of two MIG-21 squadrons has been extended due to the delayed deliveries of LCA-Mk1A.
- LCA-Mk2 & AMCA are critical for IAF’s modernisation plans.
- India's first indigenous 5th-generation stealth fighter jet — Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) will reach production stage in 2034-35. It is still in the design phase.
- Light Combat Aircraft-Mk2 (LCA-Mk2 Tejas) — 4.5 generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft — is expected to be inducted into the Indian Air Force by 2028-29.
- Rosoboronexport (Russia) has offered Su-57E (5th-generation fighter jet) for joint production as early as in 2025.
- Presently, India does not have any fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.
- India plans to meet IAF's requirements by exploring options at Russian Su-57 or the American F-35, until Tejas production is streamlined and AMCA is realised.
About Su-57E fighter aircraft
- Sukhoi Su-57 is a twin-engine stealth multirole fifth-generation fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi.
- Key features:
- It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.8.
- It can carry up to 7.4 tonnes of weapons, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.
- It has a maximum operating altitude of 54,100 feet and has a combat range of 1,864 miles (~ 3000 kms).
- Su-57E has low radar and infrared signature and has advanced air weapons.