SOURCE: AFI
India’s ambition to develop its own fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), represents a significant leap in the country’s defense capabilities. The AMCA project is a major step towards building indigenous military technology with cutting-edge features such as stealth, supercruise capability, advanced avionics, and state-of-the-art weapon systems. However, the completion of this ambitious project may take several more years, especially due to the challenges associated with engine development.
In the interim, India may consider the acquisition of Russia’s fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets to bolster its defense capabilities, particularly in response to the growing regional threat posed by China’s and Pakistan’s advancements in military aviation.
While India has made significant strides in developing the AMCA, the project faces one major challenge—the engine. India requires a powerful and efficient engine for the AMCA to meet its performance requirements. Currently, India is seeking to collaborate with foreign partners such as the UK or France to overcome this hurdle. Developing, testing, and producing this engine could take six to seven years, delaying the completion of the AMCA project.
As India works on its AMCA, its regional adversaries are advancing their own fighter jet programs. China has rapidly developed its fifth-generation fighter, the Chengdu J-20, and continues to work on other stealth fighter projects like the FC-31. Pakistan, in partnership with China, is also expected to acquire advanced fighter jets in the near future. This evolving security environment places immense pressure on India to field its own fifth-generation fighter jet sooner rather than later.
Given the urgent need to counter the increasing aerial capabilities of China and Pakistan, India is now reconsidering Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 as a stopgap solution. Acquiring this fifth-generation fighter jet would allow India to quickly bridge the gap until the AMCA project is completed.
The Sukhoi Su-57, Russia’s answer to fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 and F-35, has undergone significant improvements since its initial development phase. While India initially opted not to procure the Su-57 due to concerns about its engine and other technical flaws, recent advancements have reportedly addressed many of these issues. Most notably Su-57 now comes with the upgraded Izdelie 30 (A51) engine, enhancing its thrust, fuel efficiency, and overall performance. The engine also improves the aircraft’s stealth capabilities by reducing its thermal signature, making it harder to detect.
The Su-57 features advanced radar-absorbent materials and reduced radar cross-section, making it one of the most stealth-capable aircraft in the Russian arsenal. The Su-57 has now entered full operational service, with Russia addressing many of the technical shortcomings that were highlighted in earlier evaluations. This includes the improvement of avionics, electronic warfare systems, and weapon integration.
For India, the Su-57 represents a potential quick fix that could provide the IAF with a fifth-generation platform to match China’s J-20 and Pakistan’s future acquisitions. With the Su-57 now being fully operational, India might be able to avoid the lengthy procurement and testing process that would come with new fighter jets.
Another advantage of acquiring the Su-57 is the operational synergy it offers with India’s existing fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters. Since both aircraft are from the Sukhoi family, the IAF would benefit from a shorter learning curve in terms of maintenance, logistics, and pilot training. This could save valuable time and resources, making it easier to integrate the Su-57 into India’s existing fighter fleet.
Moreover, the Su-30MKI has already proven its value in the IAF’s inventory, being a workhorse in various operations. The familiarity with Sukhoi platforms gives the IAF an edge when adopting the Su-57.
India’s dream of developing its own fifth-generation fighter jet through the AMCA project is a monumental step towards self-reliance and technological advancement. However, given the current regional threats posed by China and Pakistan, India may need a quicker solution in the form of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57. With its improved engine, enhanced stealth capabilities, and operational readiness, the Su-57 could be an ideal stopgap measure until the AMCA becomes operational.