Russian President Vladimir Putin has renewed Moscow's offer to provide India with the Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft and proposed joint production of the platform in India, highlighting the enduring defence partnership between the two countries. Speaking during an interaction with heads of leading global news agencies in Moscow, Putin said Russia remains open to collaborating with India on the advanced fighter programme and stressed that there would be no restrictions on technology cooperation. His remarks come at a time when India is pursuing both indigenous and foreign options to strengthen its future air combat capabilities.
During the discussion, Putin recalled earlier proposals for joint development of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft and said Russia had initially envisioned the project as a collaborative venture with India. He described the Su-57 as one of the most advanced fighter aircraft currently available and reiterated Moscow's willingness to work closely with New Delhi on its development and production. The Russian leader stated that cooperation could extend beyond aircraft procurement to broader technological and industrial partnerships, reinforcing the strategic ties that have long characterized India-Russia defence relations.
India has traditionally been one of Russia's largest defence partners, with a substantial portion of its military inventory originating from Russian platforms. However, recent years have seen New Delhi diversify its defence acquisitions amid concerns over supply chain disruptions and delivery delays linked to the conflict in Ukraine. At the same time, India has accelerated efforts to achieve greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing through initiatives such as the Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, which aims to develop an indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet for the Indian Air Force.
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Despite the AMCA project's strategic importance, the aircraft is not expected to enter service before the mid-2030s, creating a potential capability gap in the coming decade. Against this backdrop, reports suggest that India is evaluating the possibility of acquiring around two squadrons, or approximately 36 Su-57 fighters, subject to the aircraft meeting operational and technical requirements. State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is understood to be maintaining contact with Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau regarding possible cooperation, indicating that discussions on the platform remain active.
India and Russia had previously spent nearly 15 years discussing a joint Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme. However, India decided not to proceed with the project in 2021, citing concerns over costs and other requirements. The estimated expenditure for the initiative was reported to be around USD 30 billion. Putin's latest remarks suggest Russia remains interested in reviving deeper collaboration in advanced aerospace technologies and defence manufacturing despite the earlier setback.
Beyond fighter aircraft, Putin also expressed Russia's readiness to cooperate with India on integrated air defence systems and related technologies. Russia remains a key supplier of the S-400 air defence system, with India having signed a USD 5 billion agreement for five units in 2018 and additional acquisitions approved subsequently. Defence analysts note that while India continues to diversify its procurement sources, Russia remains a significant strategic partner, particularly in areas involving high-end military technology, air defence systems and long-term defence-industrial cooperation.
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