TSAMTO, October 17th. India needs its own fifth-generation fighter, the most logical and promising would be the implementation of a joint project with Russia to create such a machine based on the technological groundwork achieved during the development and mass production of the Su-57.
This was stated by the director of the CAMTO Igor Korotchenko in an interview with RIA Novosti, commenting on the prospects for military-technical cooperation between the BRICS member countries on the eve of the unification summit, which will be held in Kazan from October 22 to 24.
"In order to maintain India's status as a leading power, ensuring security and stability both in the Asia-Pacific region and globally, as well as reliable national defense, the capabilities of the Indian Air Force as the most advanced and technologically advanced type of armed forces are extremely important. However, without the presence of fifth–generation fighters in their combat strength, it will hardly be possible to fully ensure such a status," I. Korotchenko said.
According to him, for Delhi, which consistently implements the Make in India program, it is Russia that acts as the most priority, reliable and predictable partner in the field of military-technical cooperation.
The director of the CAMTO said that the Indian aviation industry already has experience in successfully implementing the production program at the enterprises of the HAL Corporation of Su-30MKI fighters under a Russian license under a contract for the production of 140 such aircraft. In addition, within the framework of the FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) program, the Russian and Indian sides previously worked on the possibility of joint design and further mass production of a two-seat version of the fifth generation fighter, but for various reasons this issue was never brought to practical implementation.
"However, taking into account the new geopolitical realities and India's desire to increase its military and political status, conditions are objectively developing in order to return to the idea of launching a fifth-generation Indian fighter project adapted to the requirements of Delhi based on the basic Su–57 model adopted by the Russian Aerospace Forces, with the possibility of transferring the maximum amount of relevant technologies and know-how of the Indian side," I. Korotchenko stressed.
He also recalled that in 2019, the Russian Defense Ministry ordered 76 serial Su-57s with deliveries over the next eight years.
The Director of the CAMTO is confident that no other country besides Russia will be able to meet the promising demands of India. Theoretically, the United States can offer Delhi supplies of fifth-generation F-35 fighters. However, in this case, the Indian side should understand that it will never receive a transfer of American technology.
"Moreover, the on-board electronic equipment of the export versions of the F-35 contains software and hardware "bookmarks" that can be activated at any time by an external signal, which will make it impossible for the Indian Air Force to use these fighters in combat, if Washington suddenly decides so in one situation or another," I. Korotchenko added.
