Russia Offers Full Su-57 Stealth Fighter Technology Transfer to India Ahead of Putin Visit

Ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s December visit to India, Russia has extended an unprecedented offer to transfer complete technology for its advanced Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter, including engines, sensors, stealth coatings, and production know-how. Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov confirmed in Dubai that Moscow is prepared to initially supply ready Su-57 jets before progressively shifting full manufacturing to Indian soil under a comprehensive partnership model.

The proposal goes far beyond previous collaborations: Russia is willing to share the entire ecosystem of fifth-generation capabilities that Western nations have consistently denied India. Chemezov emphasised Moscow’s historic reliability as a partner, even during sanctions periods, and stated that any Indian request regarding technology depth would be “completely acceptable,” signalling openness to co-development and licensed production of cutting-edge systems.

Reports also indicate Russia may extend the offer to its single-engine Su-75 Checkmate stealth fighter, positioning India as the primary partner for establishing overseas production lines. Defence analysts note that local manufacturing of the cost-effective Checkmate would complement rather than compete with India’s indigenous twin-engine AMCA programme while rapidly closing the critical fifth-generation capability gap at a fraction of Western costs.

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A senior Rosoboronexport official reinforced that the package includes licence production of next-generation air weapons, integration of Indian-developed systems, and transfer of expertise in AESA radars, AI elements, low-signature technologies, and advanced avionics. This level of openness represents the deepest technology-sharing proposal India has ever received from any country.

With Putin’s arrival for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit expected to yield major defence announcements, preparatory diplomatic engagements have already begun. The sweeping Russian offer arrives as India accelerates its drive for strategic autonomy in fighter aircraft development, potentially reshaping regional air power dynamics for decades to come.

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