New Delhi : As India continues to search for a fifth-generation aircraft for its Air Force, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a major offer regarding the Sukhoi Su-57 jet. The timing of the offer is crucial. Presently, the IAF does not have any 5th-generation fighters in its arsenal. Moreover, speculation of Pakistan soon acquiring China’s Shenyang J-35AE stealth fighters has raised concerns.
In such a scenario, the IAF has been searching for a 5th-generation stealth fighter to bridge the gap. We are ready to supply India with this aircraft, to keep developing it. We don’t have any issues or limitations. The same goes for air defence systems,” Putin said, signalling Russia’s willingness to deepen defence ties with India. It also appeared to be a veiled dig at the West, which has previously imposed certain restrictions on technology transfer and access to sensitive software systems.
“The aircraft could have been our joint project. We built it independently, but we are ready to work with India in this field,” the Russian President further said. Russia’s premier fighter aircraft, the Su-57 offers high manoeuvrability, stealth capabilities, and modern avionics. Moreover, it is designed for multi-role combat missions against air, ground and maritime targets.
Now, why did India back out of the project in 2018? New Delhi had previously shown interest in the Su-57 program. There is intense speculation in defence corridors that India may be reconsidering the Russian fighter jet over America’s F-35, which President Donald Trump had offered to India during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House last year.
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