SOURCE: AFI
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Russian security experts and defense analysts have expressed growing frustration over reports that India is conditioning its potential procurement of the Su-57E—Russia’s export-variant fifth-generation fighter jet—on the integration of indigenous radar and sensor systems. This stance, while strategically aligned with India’s self-reliance agenda, has ruffled feathers in Moscow, where officials perceive it as a challenge to Russia’s aerospace technological prestige.
The Su-57E, touted by Russia as a strategic solution to bridge India’s fighter jet shortfall, has been offered with generous terms—joint production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facilities, technology transfer, and even access to source codes. However, India’s primary concern lies with the Su-57E’s avionics suite, particularly its radar system, which is based on the N036 Byelka—a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)-based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar that some Indian experts argue is now lagging behind.
In contrast, India is pushing the boundaries of radar technology with its Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based AESA radars. These next-generation systems, being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), promise significantly superior performance in detection range, power efficiency, target tracking, and resistance to jamming. The DRDO’s Uttam radar, already flying on Tejas prototypes, and the Virupaksha radar under development for the Su-30MKI upgrade, are leading examples of India’s rapid strides in this domain.
The country’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter program, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and the 4.5-generation Tejas MkII are both slated to field GaN-based AESA radars. These platforms, along with their radar systems, are central to India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) vision, which aims to reduce reliance on foreign defence technologies and strengthen domestic capabilities.
Given this context, India’s request to integrate its own radar and sensors into any future Su-57E acquisition is seen not merely as a technical customization, but a geopolitical and strategic signal. Russian defense officials, however, reportedly view this demand as an undermining of the Su-57E’s design integrity and as a rejection of Russia’s technological leadership in stealth aircraft. Sources suggest that Moscow had anticipated India’s acceptance of the aircraft as a complete package, particularly with sweeteners such as localized production, hypersonic missile integration options, and financial flexibility—including payment in Indian rupees.
The friction over radar systems is playing out as India continues to assess proposals under its $20 billion Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program, which aims to procure 110 jets to replenish its aging fleet. The Su-57E faces stiff competition from Western platforms like France’s Rafale and the U.S.-made F-35, both of which offer cutting-edge sensor fusion and stealth capabilities. India’s skepticism toward the Su-57E’s radar offering could tip the balance in favor of these competitors unless Russia agrees to accommodate indigenous integration.
Defense analysts suggest India’s firm position on sensor integration reflects a broader strategic pivot. With the AMCA’s first flight expected by 2029 and the Tejas MkII nearing production readiness, India is emerging as a credible aerospace power in its own right. This growing confidence gives New Delhi greater leverage in defence negotiations—even with long-standing partners like Russia.
Unless Russia agrees to deeper levels of customization and opens up its platform to Indian systems, the Su-57E may struggle to gain a foothold in India’s future force structure. For now, the radar deadlock has become a litmus test for how far traditional defence relationships can bend under the weight of a rapidly evolving technological and strategic landscape.
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