Russia is exploring the scale of investment required to manufacture its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets on Indian soil, defence sources said on Monday, underlining deepening military-industrial ties between the two nations.
India has conveyed that it needs at least two to three squadrons of fifth-generation aircraft, with Russia’s Su-57 and America’s F-35 emerging as leading contenders. Moscow, keen to pitch its platform, has launched studies to determine how best to establish production facilities in India.
Officials indicated that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Nashik complex, which already licence-produces the Su-30MKI, could be repurposed for Su-57 assembly if required. Other manufacturing centres engaged in producing Russian-origin equipment may also be tapped to cut costs and accelerate timelines, they said.
“Russian agencies concerned are carrying out studies to determine the level of investments they will have to make to manufacture the aircraft in India,” defence sources have informed.
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The renewed thrust comes at a time when New Delhi and Moscow have expanded defence consultations, even as India’s ties with Washington have been strained by tariffs and sharp rhetoric from the US administration.
Top-level Russian officials have repeatedly urged India to procure the Su-57, with conversations also covering high-end air defence systems such as the S-400 and S-500. India, meanwhile, had participated in Russia’s Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft project over a decade ago before opting out due to differences, but sources did not rule out a revival of cooperation “in view of the global environment.”
American pressure to push the F-35 into Indian service continues, even as New Delhi advances its own indigenous fifth-generation fighter programme. Cleared last year, the Indian aircraft is expected to take its first flight by 2028 and enter service around 2035.
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