India refused to sign a contract for the licensed production of Su-35 generation "4++" fighters due to plans to improve the Su-30MKI and switch to the Su-57 instead of making new purchases. This was reported by Military Watch Magazine.
The publication's analysts claim that the republic considered the technological difference between the aircraft already in service and the proposed model insufficiently significant to justify major investment.
Although the Su-30MKI was considered one of the most advanced fighters in the world at the time it entered service in 2002, the technological gap between this model and the Su-35 turned out to be insignificant.
It is assumed that the new agreement on Su-57 deliveries will involve the modernization of existing plants that currently produce the Su-30MKI — the backbone of the Indian Air Force.
Military analyst Stanislav Fedchishin noted that India is making technology transfer the key condition of the contract for Su-57 deliveries.