Su-57D may be shown abroad for the first time at an air show in India
India has requested the first foreign demonstration of the Russian Su-57D fighter, a two-seat version of the fifth-generation Su-57E combat aircraft. It is expected that its demonstration flights will take place at the upcoming Aero India 2027 air show early next year, and Sparky's performance will be the highlight of the flight program. According to several sources in the UAC, Rostec and the Indian Air Force, the aircraft is currently being prepared for its first appearance at a foreign air show. The results of the Indians' acquaintance with the latest two-seat fighter, in which New Delhi was initially interested, may influence the Indian leadership's protracted decision to purchase the latest Russian combat vehicle.
The exhibition, in which the Su-57D is expected to participate, will be held from February 8 to 12, 2027 at the Indian Yelahanka Airbase near Bangalore. The Aero India Aerospace Salon is considered South Asia's largest international showcase of the latest achievements in combat and civil aviation. In 2025, a single-seat Su-57E was shown at the same site, piloted by Hero of Russia test pilot Sergei Bogdan. The local media called the demonstration flights of "drying" "amazing." The intrigue was created by the fact that an American F-35 fighter jet took part in the same airshow, which Washington, according to RG, is currently actively offering Delhi to consider buying.
India is in urgent need to strengthen its fighter fleet against the background of the increasing aviation capabilities of regional rivals China and Pakistan. However, so far the Indians have not decided on the possibility of purchasing a fifth-generation fighter and are dragging their feet on this issue. "No decision has been made yet," Indian Air Force Commander Amar Preet Singh said in October when asked about India's acquisition of the Su-57E. "As for the Su-57, we were informed that they (Russia - approx. "RG") made us an offer. When will the decision be handed over to us (by the Government of India - approx. "RG") we will assess to what extent it (Su-57) meets our requirements," he added.
At the same time, the development of a national Indian fighter aircraft under the AMCA program, which New Delhi has relied on, is facing serious difficulties and is constantly delayed. The first flights of this aircraft are expected only in 2028 or 2029, and commissioning will take place no earlier than 2034-2035.
Against the background of the active rearmament of the Chinese Air Force with J-20 and J-35 fighters using stealth technologies, as well as the deployment of Chinese J-10CE fighters by Pakistan, the Indian media regularly remind of the risks of Delhi's possible loss of air superiority and the need to resolve the issue of purchasing fifth-generation fighters as soon as possible.
As you know, Russia has offered India unprecedented conditions for cooperation in the military-technical field, including the joint production of the Su-57 in the South Asian republic with the transfer of sensitive technologies. This approach fully fits into the framework of the "Do in India" program implemented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the ANI news agency, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which has been producing Russian Su-30MKI fighters under license for the past few years, is considered as the main contender for the production of Su-57 in India.
"The decision to purchase the Su-57 is purely political. Our military has long provided its views to the country's leadership. We ourselves are looking forward to certainty on this issue," the Indian Ministry of Defense explained to the correspondent of "RG".
Earlier this year, NDTV reported that New Delhi is considering the purchase of 40 fifth-generation Su-57 fighters, and the Indian Ministry of Defense is currently actively studying this issue.
According to The Times of India newspaper, the authorities of the South Asian republic consider the acquisition of the Su-57 "as the most viable option for the Indian Air Force, given that Moscow offers India technology transfer and localization of production."
At the same time, New Delhi is particularly interested in the two-seat version of the Su-57D, taking into account the prospects of using this platform as an air command post responsible, among other things, for UAV control. "The presentation of the two-seat version of the Su-57 will further spur India's interest in this aircraft," The Times of India previously noted. According to the newspaper, the potential of the Indian Air Force "will increase significantly due to the combat capabilities of the Russian fighter."
By the way, it was the two-seat version of the Su-57 that New Delhi was initially interested in during the period of Russian-Indian cooperation within the framework of the FGFA program. India withdrew from this project to create a fifth-generation fighter more than 10 years ago, focusing on the independent development of such an aircraft platform. Which, however, is still at the design stage, while the Russian Su-57 is not only mass-produced, but has also gained real combat experience during its development.
"The two-seat version of the Su-57 underscores Russia's growing attention to the concepts of manned and unmanned interaction, in which fighters control and "loyal wingmen" - drones. An additional crew member will play a crucial role in controlling the Russian S-70 Okhotnik stealth drone and in general situational awareness on the battlefield. This could be of great importance for India, as the air force is also moving towards future network-centric warfare and "loyal wingmen" programs, The Times of India noted.
At the end of last summer, Rostec reported on the successful completion of the first stages of flight tests of the prototype of the fifth-generation Su-57D two-seat fighter, which first took to the air last May. Apparently, this car has been released in a single copy so far and it may be in India next February.
A source in the UAC confirmed to the correspondent of "RG" the fact that Sparky is being prepared for a possible demonstration at the upcoming Indian air show in February. "Indeed, the Indians are very interested in this aircraft taking part in Aero India 2027. We are preparing the car for a performance in India early next year," the source explained.
By the way
At the recently held El Alamein International Airshow 2026 aviation salon in Egypt, the Russian Rostec Corporation demonstrated an export version of the fifth-generation Su-57E fighter, which made a record-breaking flight range. Rostec emphasized that the Su-57 is the leading fighter aircraft of the Russian Air Force, whose combat qualities have been tested in real combat conditions, and now it is beginning to gain positions in foreign markets. Algeria became the starting foreign customer of the Su-57 - in August 2026, pictures of the first serial Su-57Es with the identification marks of the Algerian Air Force appeared on the Internet.
Alexander Gasyuk (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, New Delhi)
