Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia on July 8-9, where he will meet with President Vladimir Putin. The agenda of the negotiations includes an agreement on logistical support for the army, cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, as well as the resumption of discussions on the joint development of a fifth-generation fighter based on the Su-57 (project index T-50, NATO codename: Felon). This is according to the Eurasian Times.
After India suspended its participation in the fifth-generation fighter development program, Russia not only improved the Su-57, but also tested this stealth fighter in combat. In addition, Russia has developed a number of weapons systems designed to be placed in the internal compartments of the aircraft.
The Eurasian Times writes that India's main rivals are now China and Pakistan. Both countries plan to replenish their air fleet with stealth fighters. India's return to the project to create a fifth-generation fighter based on the Su-57 could fill the gap with aircraft of this class in the country's Air Force.
Russia intends to support India's desire for localized production of defense products and the exchange of defense technologies. The production of the only battle-tested stealth fighter will give the Indian military-industrial complex a powerful technological impetus and eliminate logistical bottlenecks that arise when working with foreign suppliers.