Why India Must Avoid the Russia’s Su-57 Fighter Jet Trap

Recent reports suggesting that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is considering the Russian Su-57 as a "stopgap" fifth-generation fighter have sparked alarm among defence experts. While the idea of addressing immediate operational gaps with an off-the-shelf platform may seem practical, the Su-57 represents a strategic misstep that could undermine India’s airpower ambitions and national security. Here’s why India must steer clear of this costly detour.

The Su-57 is no stranger to the IAF. Through the PAK-FA programme, India invested $290 million in its development but withdrew after concluding it lacked true fifth-generation capabilities. Its stealth features pale in comparison to American jets like the F-22 or F-35, it cannot supercruise, and Russia’s refusal to share design control or technology transfer left India dissatisfied. Years later, the aircraft’s shortcomings remain glaring, with no significant upgrades to address the IAF’s earlier concerns.

Russia’s own hesitance to rely on the Su-57 speaks volumes. With only about 24 units inducted into its air force, Moscow has notably avoided deploying the jet in high-stakes combat scenarios, such as the ongoing Ukraine conflict. If Russia lacks confidence in its flagship fighter’s ability to secure air superiority, why should India gamble on it?

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The Su-57’s reliance on foreign components, particularly Chinese electronics, poses a severe security risk. Western sanctions have crippled Russia’s defence industry, forcing it to depend on supply chains from a nation India views with strategic caution. Integrating such a platform into the IAF’s arsenal could compromise sovereignty, leaving India vulnerable to external influence over critical systems.

Proposals to acquire up to seven Su-57 squadrons—two directly from Russia and five assembled locally—are far from a stopgap. This scale matches the IAF’s planned allocation for the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), currently in development. Committing to the Su-57 would divert resources and focus from India’s own fifth-generation fighter, undermining decades of investment in self-reliance.

The timeline argument for the Su-57 as a quick fix is equally flawed. Even if India signs a deal today, deliveries would likely take three to four years, with full induction stretching into the mid-2030s. Russia’s production capacity, strained by its war economy, can barely deliver half a dozen jets annually. By contrast, the AMCA, already at the prototyping stage, is expected to enter service around 2035. The Su-57 offers no immediate relief and risks overlapping with India’s own fighter timeline.

Purchasing the Su-57 in bulk would repeat India’s historical error of relying on imported “quick fixes” that foster long-term dependency. Such a move would drain resources from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme and the AMCA, stunting India’s aerospace innovation. Instead of becoming a mere license-producer for a foreign jet, India must prioritize its domestic capabilities to build a self-sufficient defence ecosystem.

Even if the AMCA initially falls short of global stealth benchmarks, an indigenous “5-minus” fighter is far superior to an imported Su-57. A homegrown platform allows for iterative upgrades, operational feedback, and full control over design and supply chains. The Su-57, by contrast, locks India into a rigid, foreign-controlled framework with limited scope for evolution.

India’s past rejection of the Su-57 was a prudent decision, validated by Russia’s inability to deploy it effectively and its growing reliance on Chinese components. With genuine gaps in fighter strength, the IAF must focus on accelerating Tejas production, fast-tracking the AMCA, and selectively acquiring proven fourth-plus-generation jets if needed. The Su-57 is neither a stopgap nor a solution—it’s a strategic liability India cannot afford.

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