Su-57E made the first demonstration flight on Aero India
The latest Russian Su-57E fighter made its first demonstration flight at the Aero India 2025 International Aviation and Space exhibition. The presentation gathered a large number of viewers. At the same time, the main event of the air show was the simultaneous appearance of the Su-57 and F-35, as this is the first time that the United States and Russia present their most advanced aircraft at the same air show. With details - the military observer of "Gazeta.Ru" Mikhail Khodarenok from India.
The Aero India Airshow continues to be a "runway for billions of opportunities" for both Indian and global defense industry players, given that India's needs in the aerospace and defense industries are enormous.
Despite India's aggressive desire to produce weapons on its own, this country accounts for 9.8% of global arms imports over the period 2019-2023. It is followed by Saudi Arabia (8.4%), Qatar (7.6%), Ukraine (4.9%) and Pakistan (4.3%).
India's defense needs, according to New Delhi, are simply enormous, since it has thousands of kilometers of common border with seven countries and thousands of kilometers of coastline, as well as belligerent neighbors - China and Pakistan.
F-35 And Su-57 - meeting in the sky
The Indian Air Force is awaiting the launch of the MRFA (Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft) program. By and large, the very idea of developing or purchasing a multirole fighter is at stake. The country's air force is awaiting confirmation of the need from the Government of India to announce a tender for participation in this program.
Among the contenders for the "Made in India" title (possible bidders) are Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-21 (F-16 variant), Mikoyan Design Bureau MiG-35, SAAB JAS 39 Gripen E/F, Su-35. Of course, we should not forget about the French Rafale. Or, it is believed in India, it is quite possible that it will be a Su-57, the sound of which engine is already heard in the skies of Bangalore.
Moscow and New Delhi maintain very strong and long-standing relations not only in the field of defense, but also in other areas, driven by strategic interests and geopolitical game. That's what New Delhi thinks, anyway.
At first, it was reported that the US Air Force command had withdrawn Lockheed Martin F-35 and upgraded F-16 fighters from participating in the XV Aero India 2025 Airshow. And the Russian fifth-generation Su-57 combat aircraft, which is being demonstrated on the international stage for the second time (for the first time it was shown in China), turned out to be in the spotlight.
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| Su-57. |
| Source: Mikhail Khodarenok/"Newspaper.Ru" |
The initial information about the American combat vehicles turned out to be not entirely accurate. U.S. Air Force F-35 and F-16 aircraft landed in Bangalore. The participation of F-35 and F-16 fighters in the Aero India 2025 air show will offer viewers an unprecedented sight, according to India.
[cloud=bc]The landing of American planes in Bangalore marks a historic moment, as it will be the first time that the United States and Russia will present their most advanced aircraft at the same air show, Indian sources emphasize.
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| The Su-57 fifth-generation multi-role fighter at the Aero India 2025 International exhibition at Yelahanka Air Force Base in Bangalore. |
| Source: Nina Padalko/RIA Novosti |
Combat vehicles will be demonstrated both in static parking and in the air, along with Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighters, French Rafale and Indian Navy MiG-29K.
Without any exaggeration, the simultaneous appearance of the Su-57 and F-35 in Bangalore was the main event of the air show and pushed everything else into the background.
The official presentation of the Su-57 attracted a large number of viewers, and it can even be said that it is sold out. At least a hundred Russian and foreign journalists gathered at the stand.
Under the flag of SVO
The special military operation has more than clearly demonstrated the importance of air defense for both groups of troops and facilities in the country. War, however, is both the main test for weapons and the best advertisement for those types of weapons and military equipment that have performed their best on the battlefields. Our potential partners are closely monitoring the course of the military operation, carefully analyzing all aspects of the conduct of hostilities.
As for the forces and means of air defense of our enemy, almost all anti-aircraft missile systems/systems of the collective West are involved in the armed conflict in Ukraine. Various changes in the design of air defense systems / SAMs are promptly introduced by manufacturers of anti-aircraft missile weapons of NATO member states based on the results obtained during anti-aircraft warfare and battles.
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| A Russian Air Force Su-57 fighter jet at the Aero India 2025 International Exhibition at Yelahanka Air Force Base in Bangalore, February 9, 2025. |
| Source: Mikhail Khodarenok/Gazeta.Ru» |
The SVO has convincingly shown that the standard combat kit of anti-aircraft guided missiles for the main tactical and firing units (anti-aircraft missile division, battery) is clearly insufficient for modern anti-aircraft warfare (for example, for the S-300PT of the first modifications, this figure is 48 items). And this fact should be taken into account by potential foreign customers. Standard ammunition is discharged in a few minutes of modern anti-aircraft combat. Naturally, the consumption of rockets must also be treated with care. After all, at the present time, a missile launcher is not the cheapest product.
Our anti-aircraft missile armament shows high efficiency and reliability during combat operations. The Patriot (MIM-104) medium-range anti-aircraft missile system certainly has good tactical and technical characteristics, but it is one step lower than the S-400 air defense system.
Finally, all countries of the world are actively studying their experience in combating UAVs. And I must say bluntly that no one expected such a large-scale use of unmanned aircraft in the conflict in Ukraine. The problem of combating UAVs has not been fundamentally solved at the moment, and hunting rifles cannot close this issue. Even fighter drones are not a universal solution. Effective Scattering Surface (EPR) The enemy's UAVs are rapidly decreasing, and traditional radars are unlikely to detect these means of air attack soon. It is quite possible that sound-detecting equipment will be used in one form or another to solve these problems.
Our competitors in the field of air defense
Russia has competitors in the Indian market of air defense forces and equipment. In particular, Israel is aggressively promoting its air defense assets to India. These include the Barak-8 air defense system. It is a ship-based complex designed for the air defense of ships from anti-ship missiles and guided bombs. The manufacturer is a consortium of companies IAI (Israel Aircraft Industries) and RAFAEL.
For example, the Barak-8 air defense systems are installed on board the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya. In addition, other ships of the Indian Navy are equipped with Barak anti-aircraft missile systems - the Viraat aircraft carrier, the Calcutta, Delhi, Rajput destroyers, the Shivalik, Godavari, and Brahmaputra frigates.
Initially, the Barak-8 was developed as a ship-based air defense system in combination with the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR radar on large ships and the EL/M-2258 ALPHA on combat boats. A land-based version of this air defense system, the MRSAM (Medium Range Surface Air Missile), has been developed specifically for India since 2009. It is believed that the Barak-8, with its naval and land-based versions, is on the list of the most successful Israeli military developments.
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| Indian MRSAM anti-aircraft system. |
| Source: Israel Aerospace Industries |
But in Asia, Israel is not the only one trying to promote its anti-aircraft missile weapons. For example, the United States is pursuing an aggressive marketing policy in this region, but we have a very strong position in air defense. And it should be noted that good things are never cheap. For example, only China, India and Turkey could afford to purchase the S-400 air defense system.
By the way, in September 2013, China won a tender from us for the supply of an anti-aircraft missile system to Turkey (the Chinese foreign trade association China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation, which offered Ankara the HQ-9 air defense system).
The Chinese HQ-9 ("Hongqi", that is, "Red Banner") air defense systems, in fact, were a modified copy of the Russian S-300 air defense systems. Beijing did this mainly due to the price. But the contract never took place. The Turks eventually chose the S-400 air defense system. After all, the Chinese anti-aircraft missile system did not reach the level of the S-400. And this was convincingly demonstrated by the flight of the Triumph already on the territory of Turkey.
At one time, Russia sold the Tor-M2 air defense system to China. Now, apparently, China is developing its own analogue of this air defense system.
As for India, New Delhi buys licenses in good faith. Of course, if the state has its own capabilities for the production of anti-aircraft missile weapons, then the country will not buy weapons from a foreign developer. But so far, there is no cooler S-400 Triumph air defense system in the world.
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| S-400. |
| Source: Maxim Blinov/RIA Novosti |
At the same time, the training of foreign specialists continues in Russia. All the leading enterprises of Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Region Concern JSC have their own training centers, which are primarily focused on the combat use of weapons and military equipment produced by the concern. If Almaz-Antey introduces something to export sites, then a training base is being organized in parallel.
The concern has also seriously engaged in cataloging the manufactured anti-aircraft missile weapons. Previously, the maintenance of equipment was carried out in accordance with the operating instructions, but now this process is also visualized. Without this, it is quite difficult to promote weapons and military equipment on the market. And previously supplied weapons must also be provided with an electronic catalog.
It is necessary to create in India a service and technical center for the maintenance of weapons and military equipment of Almaz-Antey Concern of East Kazakhstan Region. For example, it is not good to have the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system equipped with the Indian Armed Forces and not be able to repair the air defense system. STTS should be created in parallel with the sale of weapons. These are jobs in India, and the idea fits very well into the Make in India program.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.
Biography of the author:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military columnist for Gazeta.Ru", retired colonel.
He graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School (1976), the Military Air Defense Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile division (1980-1983).
Deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior Officer of the General Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010-2015).
Mikhail Khodarenok
