India maintains a cautious distance from the Russian Su-57 program, despite an offer for joint production of up to 100 fighters on its territory. This is reported by Defence Security Asia.
According to the publication, New Delhi continues to evaluate the Su-57 as a project with unresolved issues regarding combat effectiveness and the level of technological openness. Against this background, proposals for deep localization evoke a cautious reaction.
Russia proposes to organize large-scale production with technology transfer and assembly at HAL facilities in Nashik. However, India is not rushing to commit to a large series and is considering limited purchases to cover the deficit of combat squadrons.
The offer is significantly different from the fifth-generation fighter project previously abandoned by India in 2018. New Delhi withdrew from the original cooperation agreement in air transportation mainly due to rising costs, insufficient access to technology, and lingering doubts about the overall maturity of the Su-57.
In parallel, the country is developing its own Tejas and AMCA programs, and is also exploring alternative foreign options. This forms a strategy in which the Su-57 is not considered the sole priority choice.
A few days ago, it became known that Russia offered India two versions of the Su-57 fighter — a classic strike version and a two-seat aircraft for drone control. Russian Ambassador to New Delhi Denis Alipov noted that the final decision on deliveries has not yet been made.
