Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov once again brought the Su-57 into the center of the discussion around New Delhi's potential acquisition of fifth-generation fighters. At the NDTV Defence Summit, he called the American F-35 a good aircraft, but stated that the machine is "too expensive," while the Russian side offers India more favorable terms.
The statement came against the backdrop of the F-35's first participation in the Tarang Shakti exercises in India. Six American fighters and more than 200 US military personnel arrived to participate in them.
Alipov emphasized that the choice between the F-35 and the Su-57 remains India's sovereign decision. At the same time, on September 28, Indian Defense Minister RK Singh told NDTV that the government has not yet made a decision on the purchase of the Russian fifth-generation fighter.
The Russian side focuses not only on the supply of the Su-57. Earlier, Russian representatives stated their readiness to discuss with India the localization of production, technology transfer, and adaptation of the aircraft to the requirements of the Indian side.
However, Alipov did not provide specific calculations. His words about the high cost of the F-35 are an assessment by the Russian side.