As geopolitical uncertainties continue to pressure global economies, defence acquisitions have emerged as one of the most sought-after sectors worldwide.
India is also a key player in this race. Among the most crucial acquisitions New Delhi is eyeing is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft - an area that may spark a fresh global showdown between the United States and Russia.
Both defence powers have offered their fifth-generation combat jets to the Indian Air Force. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump proposed including India in the critical F-35 programme. More recently, Russia has put forward its own offer-and Moscow's words may completely reshape India's fighter jet calculus.
While the US may want India to buy the F-35, the Russian offer raises the stakes. Moscow has stated that "unrestricted technology transfer" of its Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter is on the table, along with the hardware.
This significantly tilts the fifth-generation acquisition game in Russia's favour. After all, full technology transfer would boost the Indian Air Force's self-reliance and help plug the acute gaps in squadron strength.
| Feature | Su-57 (Russia) | F-35 Lightning II (USA) |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Air superiority & strike; multirole, supermaneuverable | Multirole, stealth strike fighter; data-centric |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Engine(s) | 2 × Saturn AL-41F1 turbofans (planned: Izdeliye 30 upgrade) | 1 × Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbojet |
| Max Speed | Mach 2.0 (~2,136 km/h) | Mach 1.6 (~1,931 km/h) |
| Supercruise Capability | Yes – sustained supersonic (Mach 1.3) without afterburner | No – short supersonic dash only |
| Combat Range | ~1,900 km | ~1,500 km |
| Ferry Range | ~3,500 km | ~2,200 km |
| Service Ceiling | ~66,000 ft (20,000 m) | > 50,000 ft |
| Weapons Payload | Internal: ~7,400 kg | Internal: ~8,160 kg |
| Stealth Design | Strongest forward-aspect (for interception); less all-aspect | All-aspect, networked, radar-absorbing |
| Radar/EW | Distributed AESA radar array + IRST | AN/APG-81 AESA, EOTS, DAS, advanced EW suite |
| AI Integration | Yes – “electronic second pilot” onboard system | Advanced decision aid, sensor fusion |
| Maneuverability | Thrust-vectoring 3D, post-stall capability; “Cobra” moves | High-alpha handling, fly-by-wire; no thrust vectoring |
| Operational Numbers | Low: limited Russian deployment | High: 1,000+ delivered worldwide, ~9 partner nations |
| Price (approx. flyaway) | Est. $35–45 million/unit (not regularly published) | ~$80 million/unit |
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