Russia may offer India not only the 5th-generation Su-57 fighter but also a new weapon system for it. IDRW author Raunak Kunde claims that the adaptation of the Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" hypersonic missile to the combat aircraft is under discussion.
According to him, the standard Kh-47M2 is too large for the Su-57's internal bay, so a reduced version is being considered.
Russia is offering not just the fifth-generation fighter itself, but an entire ecosystem of new-generation weapons.
The prospective version of the "Kinzhal" could retain hypersonic speed and achieve a range of up to 2000 km, Kunde clarified. The proposed package also includes the Kh-69 cruise missile, R-77M and R-37M air-to-air missiles, and the S-71K "Kover" stealth strike system.
Aviation expert Roman Gusarov explained to "Pervy Tekhnichesky" why the production of Su-57 in India would be beneficial for Russia.
It is known that the hypersonic "Kinzhal" develops speeds over Mach 10 and is capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than 2,000 km. Currently, its main carrier is the MiG-31K, but there were rumors even about a modernized Su-34.