Russian President Vladimir Putin has renewed Russia’s offer to supply the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet to India, saying the aircraft could have been a joint development project. (a file photo)
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has again tried to hard-sell the fifth-generation Su-57 to India, saying the fighter aircraft’s development could have been a joint project with India, but it did not materialise. However, he said that he is still open to supplying Su-57 to India. “We built it independently, but we are ready to work with India in this field, to supply this aircraft & to keep developing it,” he said in Moscow.Russia signals broader defence tech sharing, highlights S-400 performanceNot just the fifth-generation aircraft, he also expressed a willingness to share advanced air defence technology with India, with the S-400 air defence systems demonstrating their lethality during Operation Sindoor. The fifth and final batch of S-400s has not yet come to India.Responding to queries from the PTI on Thursday, he stated that at one point, we had proposed to our Indian friends that we jointly work on this fifth-generation technology.It’s fifth-generation technology — I think it’s the best in the world as of now, he stated. But back then, he said our Indian friends said: “Go ahead on your own, and then we will see — maybe we’ll join.”However, there is no word from India on Putin’s renewed push to sell Su-57, though a Russian technical team, including members of the Sukhoi design set-up, had earlier visited HAL facilities to evaluate ground infrastructure in case the two nations decide on co-development of the fighter jet in India.The Russians are giving access to significant technology transfer, including manufacturing know-how. Besides that, they are open to potential cooperation with the Indian industry, especially with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), to develop an ecosystem here under the Make in India framework.The Russian team members visited HAL facilities, including Nashik and Koraput, as well as the Strategic Electronics Factory, where the state-owned aerospace company is already producing Su-30 MKI. The team returned with an assessment that HAL already possess roughly 50 per cent of the infrastructure and industrial capability needed for Su-57 production. An overall cost assessment was also conducted, and HAL submitted its report on the roadmap if the government decided to go ahead with the co-production of next-generation aircraft.India weighs indigenous fighter push amid past FGFA exit and foreign offersAbout eight years ago, India walked out of the Indo-Russian FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) project over concerns about stealth performance, avionics, sensors, costs, and work-share arrangements, as well as its preference for a two-seater cockpit. Americans, too, have been pressuring India to buy their fifth-generation F-35 aircraft.India is focused on its indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program and has issued RFPs to shortlisted bidders to begin manufacturing.Besides that, India is moving ahead with orders for 114 Rafale aircraft from France to reduce its capacity deficit. Of that, 90 would be manufactured here.Published on June 5, 2026
