SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

In a strategic bid to deepen its defense partnership with India and address the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) critical squadron shortfall, Russia has offered a dual proposal involving the Sukhoi Su-57E fifth-generation stealth fighter and the Su-35M 4.5-generation air superiority fighter. The offer, presented by Russia’s state-run Rostec and Sukhoi at Aero India 2025, includes full Transfer of Technology (ToT) for local manufacturing of the Su-57E at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Nashik facility, where over 220 Su-30MKI jets have been produced, and direct supply of Su-35M jets under the IAF’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender for 114 jets. The proposal also extends advanced Saturn AL-41F1S and Izdeliye 177S engines for both platforms and upgrades to the IAF’s Su-30MKI fleet, according to sources close to idrw.org.
The Su-57E, the export variant of Russia’s premier stealth fighter, is being pitched with full source code access and 40–60% localization at HAL’s Nashik plant, enabling integration of indigenous systems like the Astra BVR missile, Rudram anti-radiation missile, and Virupaksha AESA radar. This aligns with India’s “Make in India” and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, offering a pathway to produce a fifth-generation fighter domestically while supporting the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program with technology transfers in engines, stealth systems, and avionics. Rostec has proposed delivering 20–30 Su-57E jets off-the-shelf to address immediate IAF needs, with localized production to follow within 3–4 years, potentially delivering 60–70 jets by the early 2030s.
The Su-35M, a 4.5-generation fighter competing in the MRFA tender alongside platforms like the Rafale, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and F-21, is being offered as a direct-supply solution to rapidly bolster the IAF’s squadron strength, which has dwindled to 31 against a sanctioned 42. Rostec claims the Su-35M shares 70–80% technological commonality with the Su-30MKI, facilitating seamless absorption by the IAF due to shared maintenance infrastructure and pilot familiarity. The Su-30MKI’s stellar performance during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, where it provided air cover and delivered BrahMos strikes against Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases, underscores this synergy. Rostec has also boasted of “doubling” Su-35 production capacity due to demand from the Ukraine conflict, promising double-digit annual deliveries to India, which could field two squadrons (36–40 jets) within 2–3 years.
Both aircraft are powered by the Saturn AL-41F1S (Izdeliye 117S) afterburning turbofan engine, delivering 142 kN of thrust with thrust-vectoring for supermaneuverability, a feature already integrated into the Su-30MKI’s AL-31FP engines. However, the IAF has shown greater interest in the Izdeliye 177S, a derivative of the AL-41F1 with enhanced stealth features, including serrated exhaust nozzles to reduce infrared and radar signatures, and a higher thrust-to-weight ratio of 9.5:1 (142 kN, 14,500 kgf) compared to the AL-31FP’s 8.2:1. The 177S, unveiled at Airshow China 2024, offers a 6,000-hour service life—three times that of the AL-31FP—and is fully interchangeable with the Su-30MKI’s engines, enabling upgrades to the existing 259-jet fleet and retrofitting for extended service until 2055. Its compatibility with the Su-57E and Su-35M makes it a versatile option for India’s modernization plans, though Russia has yet to flight-test the 177S, pending an international buyer’s commitment, possibly India.
The IAF’s interest in the Su-35M remains uncertain, given its preference for the Rafale, which offers proven 4.5-generation capabilities and existing infrastructure from the 36-jet deal in 2016. The Su-35M, priced at approximately $65–80 million per unit, is more cost-effective than the Rafale ($120 million) or F-35A ($80–100 million), and its integration of long-range R-37M hypersonic missiles (400 km range) and K-77M BVR missiles enhances its appeal for high-altitude operations in the Himalayas and rapid response against Pakistan’s J-10C and potential J-35 acquisitions. However, concerns persist over the Su-57E’s stealth performance, which some analysts argue is inferior to the F-35, and geopolitical risks from U.S. CAATSA sanctions, as seen with India’s S-400 deal. Past issues with Su-30MKI spares and maintenance, exacerbated by sanctions on Russia post-2014, also raise caution, with a 2018 Jane’s Defence Weekly report noting 30–40% of the fleet grounded at times due to supply chain disruptions.
Russia’s proposal leverages HAL’s Nashik facility, which has produced over 920 AL-31FP engines and assembled Su-30MKIs since 2004, offering a ready infrastructure for Su-57E production and Su-35M maintenance. The Su-57E deal includes joint development of avionics and stealth systems, with Rostec promising source code access—a rarity compared to France’s restrictive Rafale deal or the U.S.’s limited ToT for the F-35. This flexibility allows India to integrate AMCA-developed technologies, such as GaN-based AESA radars and indigenous mission computers, into the Su-57E, creating a “Super-30” configuration aligned with the Su-30MKI upgrade program. The IAF’s 14 Su-30MKI squadrons, forming its backbone, stand to benefit from the 177S engine’s enhanced thrust and durability, boosting combat range and payload capacity for missions like those in Operation Sindoor.
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