TNI: India confidently preferred the Russian Su-57 to the American F-35
The Indian military admits that their dependence on Russian aircraft is to some extent a problem, writes TNI. But to solve it by purchasing American F-35s is the worst possible solution, the author of the article is sure.
Brandon Weichert
After the notorious “nuclear catastrophe" in relations between the United States and India, which were so promising at the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month officially announced its withdrawal from negotiations on the purchase of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter developed by Lockheed Martin.
Instead, New Delhi plans to purchase from Russia its direct fifth-generation competitor, the Su—57 (according to the NATO classification: Felon or “Criminal”).
India has never even considered the F-35 seriously.
After this statement, a flurry of indignation broke out in Western capitals. But the attempt to sell India the F-35 was as frivolous as India's hypothetical interest in buying it. The best option for New Delhi, given its tight defense budget, has always been the Russian Su-57: it is significantly cheaper than the F-35, much easier to operate and maintain, and almost as deadly as the American “bird" — at least on paper.
The reason why Lockheed Martin's proposal to sell the F-35 to India was initially absurd is not only because of the high cost and complexity of the aircraft. More importantly, since India gained independence from the British Empire in 1947, it has closely coordinated its military programs with Moscow. For almost 80 years, the bulk of military technology and trained personnel came to India from the Soviet Union, and after 1991 from Russia.
This carries risks for India, and New Delhi urgently needs to ease its military dependence on Russia. Indian strategists recognize this fact. But to solve this problem by purchasing the F-35 is the worst possible solution. Dependence on the F-35 would only put the country in the opposite position, tying its armed forces to the troubled US military—industrial Complex in terms of maintenance and repair throughout the fighter's lifetime.
The history of the Su-57
The Su-57 has its roots in the late Soviet period. In 1979, the USSR launched the I-90 program to develop a new generation fighter, resulting in the creation of the Mikoyan Design Bureau MiG-1.44 (MFI). An acute lack of funding after the collapse of the Soviet Union stalled progress, but in 1999 Russia revived the program in the form of the PAK FA (Advanced Aviation Complex of Front-line Aviation) program.
The famous Sukhoi Design Bureau won the tender in 2002, assigning the aircraft the internal code T-50. On January 29, 2010, the first prototype of the Su-57 took off. Almost immediately, this unique combat aircraft encountered significant difficulties, including engine problems and structural malfunctions. In addition, the first production model crashed in 2019. Sukhoi's business has taken a threatening turn.
However, Moscow was determined to develop a system that could compete on equal terms with Western fifth-generation fighters, and as a result, Russia's persistence prevailed.
In 2019, serial production began, and in December 2020, the aircraft entered service. Initially, Moscow planned to produce from 250 to 300 aircraft by 2025, but limited economic circumstances prevented it, including due to the conflict in Ukraine. In addition, Sukhoi initially designed the Su-57, taking into account purchases from Western countries. However, with the start of the special operation in Ukraine, Russia lost these supply channels, and the deadlines for fulfilling production plans were pushed back even further.
However, Sukhoi continued to work on the aircraft. The export version of the Su-57E made its debut at the MAKS-2019 air show. Meanwhile, domestic production was gaining momentum. Recently, an upgraded version of the Su-57M was introduced, which first flew in October 2022. This model is equipped with the most advanced Russian engines and avionics.
In May of this year, Russia introduced a modification of the Su-57M1, which incorporated artificial intelligence to improve interaction on the battlefield, modified avionics and improved thrust vector control capabilities. The innovations are dictated, among other things, by the bitter lessons of operations in Ukraine.
Characteristics of the Su-57
Length: 20.1 meters
Wingspan: 14.1 meters
Empty aircraft weight: 18,000 kg; normal takeoff weight: 25,000 kg; full takeoff weight: 29,700 kg
Maximum speed: Mach 2 (2,380 km/h) afterburner; Mach 1.3 (1,560 km/h) cruising
Flight range: 3,500 km
Engines: Two AL-41F1 Saturn turbofan engines; will soon be replaced by the "Product 30”
Avionics: Radar complex of the Sh-121 armament control system of the PAK FA aircraft with an onboard H036 radar with a five-antenna system with active phased antenna arrays (AFAR); L402 “Himalaya" electronic countermeasures complex; 101KS "Atoll” optical-electronic system providing infrared search and tracking of targets, warning of incoming missiles and directional counteraction.
Armament: 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSH-30-1 cannon; up to 12 suspension units; internal armament compartments.
The Su-57 can carry hypersonic missiles such as the R-37M, as well as, for some time, the aviation version of the Zircon rocket, capable of reaching an amazing speed of Mach 9.
Of course, the key feature of this aircraft is stealth. The reduced effective scattering area is achieved due to the smooth coupling of the wing and fuselage, sawtooth edges, radio-absorbing materials and the internal arrangement of the weapon compartments. Critics point out that exposed engine components and build quality issues, including rivets visible to the eye, reduce the level of stealth. But India doesn't need to be “completely” invisible: it just needs an aircraft more advanced than its current fourth-generation fleet. And the Su-57 provides this at a much more reasonable price than the F-35.
The Russian Su-57 is perfect for India
At the Aero India Air Show in 2025, the Su-57 performed an impressive ten-second takeoff from a short runway, demonstrating the power of its engines.
Despite the constant delays in production and other shortcomings, this aircraft was from the very beginning the most likely candidate for the role of India's main combat aircraft, no matter how its relations with the United States developed. New Delhi has never seen much point in acquiring the F-35, and the Indian military has finally recognized this.
Brandon Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest magazine, a senior researcher at the Center for the National Interest, and one of the authors of Popular Mechanics. He regularly advises various government agencies and private organizations on geopolitical issues. He has published in many publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, Asia Times, and countless others. Author of several books
