Will India Locally Produce the Su-57 Stealth Fighter?
Is India prepping itself to locally manufacture the Russian Su-57 stealth fighter? The grapevine is abuzz with talk of India gearing up for the same. If this happens, it would mean a major leap for the nation’s Air Force. Besides, it the move hints at a strategic way forward in India’s defence procurement policy too.
Aligning well with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and Make in India mission, it would be a major move on the part of the Indian defence forces to have the much spoken about Su-57 stealth fighter locally built. It is being reported that a joint-manufacturing deal between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) would prove to be the base for such a move.
Aiding the move is New Delhi’s strengthening of ties with Moscow. Russia might now offer better terms in the technology transfer domain. It needs to be noted that, India’s request for a fifth-generation fighter had not worked out as Russia was not very keen on admitting India into its Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme. Disagreements on cost, stealth standards, and full-scale technology transfers had proved to be bane then.
India-Russia talks on
Not anymore! India and Russia are in parleys that could lead to a generous transfer-of-technology terms. Though the Su-57 could be seen as not very much superior compared with the American F-35, India’s defence-industrial pathway looks like smoother in the current scenario.
The current Indian defence firmament calls for the potential induction of around 60 units of fifth generation fighters. It was earlier reported that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has made public its need for at least two to three squadrons of these fifth-generation fighters that would spurt the fleet strength. The Indian Air Fore currently banks on its Su-30MKI heavy fighters, Rafales, upgraded Jaguars, and the indigenously built Tejas. If the fifth generation fighters are not inducted soon, it would mean a disadvantageous position for India.
HAL might retrofit the Su-57s locally
With Russian buys keenly looked at, India would want the Su-57s to fulfil its strategic goals. So building these stealth fighters locally could be a good option for the nation that swears by its Make in India policy.
Russia’s ROSTEC, in this context, could actively weigh its options on using HAL’s existing Su-30MKI assembly lines to retrofit the Su-57s. Reports added that the internal audits of the costs and customisation options are currently on.
