TSAMTO, September 18. The Indian state corporation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has confirmed the availability of production facilities and technical competencies for the licensed production of the Su-57 in India.
The corresponding statement was made by Kota Ravi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Managing Director of the corporation, in an interview with The Tribune newspaper published on September 17.
According to the head of HAL, the corporation has the necessary infrastructure and qualified personnel to organize licensed production of the Su-57 in India.
Earlier, during a conference call on the results of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025/26 in mid-May 2026, K. Ravi stated that the adoption of the Russian proposal for the licensed production of the export modification of the Su-57E falls within the competence of the Government of India, and is not a corporate decision of HAL. The corporation's management announced its readiness to participate in the program upon receipt of a corresponding directive from the Indian Ministry of Defense.
According to the results of an inspection conducted by the Russian delegation with the participation of representatives of PJSC "UAC" in September 2025, it was found that from 50 to 60% of the existing production facilities and infrastructure of HAL can be used to organize the production of Su-57. An inspection was carried out of the Nasik unit, which houses the final assembly line for Su-30MKI fighters, the Koraput unit, which carries out licensed production and overhaul of AL-31FP engines, as well as the Strategic Electronics Plant (SEF) in Kasaragoda, which produces some components of avionics equipment.
By the end of 2025, HAL submitted a report to the Indian Ministry of Defense, according to which the project is technically feasible, and the serial production of the Su-57E can be deployed within 2-3 years from the moment the government decides to conclude the contract. The report provided a preliminary estimate of the amount of investments needed to modernize infrastructure, train personnel, and master technology.
The Russian proposal provides for full technology transfer, licensed production and local assembly at existing HAL facilities. The package includes: access to avionics source codes; transfer of technologies for the production of the "product 177C" power plant with localization based on HAL Koraput, including single-crystal casting of turbine blades and a digital engine control system; access to radio-absorbing materials technologies and methods for reducing the effective scattering area.
The proposal also includes the integration of national weapons into the aviation weapons complex, including long-range "air-to-air" guided missiles, as well as scientific and technical support for development work on the Indian program of advanced medium combat aircraft AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) and readiness for joint development of a two-seat fighter modification. It is estimated that localization will reduce the cost of one aircraft from 80 to 50-60 million dollars.
The statement by HAL's management was made against the background of the recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India to attend the BRICS summit on September 11, during which a bilateral meeting was held with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The delivery and joint production of the Su-57 was included in the agenda of the negotiations. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation D.On September 8, Peskov confirmed the Russian side's readiness to cooperate with India on Su-57 fighter jets and the transfer of relevant technologies, noting the unprecedented level of military-technical cooperation with India.
The list of Russian defense proposals presented to the Indian side during the visit, in addition to the joint production of the Su-57, included the modernization of the Su-30MKI fighter fleet worth over $ 11 billion, as well as the supply of air defense systems.
According to the previously announced parameters, with a positive decision, the first two squadrons (about 36-40 units) of the Su-57E are expected to be delivered from Russia in ready–made form, and the next 3-5 squadrons are to be produced at the HAL facilities in Nasik.
The Indian government's position on the Russian proposal has not been officially formulated. The urgency of the issue is due to the reduction of the combat strength of the Indian Air Force to about 31 fighter squadrons with a staff strength of 42 squadrons.
