Su-57 or F-35? Why India may opt for Russia's 5th gen fighter

With India's indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, still a decade away from operational deployment, New Delhi appears to be exploring interim options to bridge the gap in fifth-generation air combat capability. Reports indicate that the Russian Sukhoi Su-57 is emerging as a likely candidate.

At Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, both Russia and the United States showcased their fifth-generation fighters, the Su-57 and F-35 respectively. Russia proposed joint production of the Su-57 along with technology transfer, while the US pitched the F-35 as a means to deepen defence ties with India.




The push for a fifth-generation platform comes amid a rapid expansion of China’s stealth fleet, including the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35 fighters. China has reportedly offered 40 J-35s to Pakistan.

Reports suggest that the Su-57 could be a more viable option than the F-35. The American aircraft carries operational restrictions, including limited integration with indigenous Indian weapons systems, making the Russian jet a more flexible choice for Indian requirements.

Senior Russian aerospace officials have confirmed ongoing technical discussions with India to explore the joint production of the Su-57E, the export variant of Russia’s first operational fifth-generation fighter. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) CEO Vadim Badekha described the talks as being at an “advanced stage,” with potential licensed production at facilities currently manufacturing the Su-30MKI. The plan would also involve extensive participation of Indian industry and systems in the aircraft.

State arms exporter Rosoboronexport’s CEO, Alexander Mikheev, added that Russia has offered not only supply of Su-57E jets but also assistance in organizing their production in India and supporting the development of India’s AMCA program.

What is the Su-57?

The Sukhoi Su-57 is Russia’s first operational fifth-generation fighter, developed under the PAK FA program to replace aging MiG-29 and Su-27 variants. Designed as a multirole platform, it can perform air superiority, strike, suppression of enemy air defenses, and network-centric operations.

Unlike Western stealth fighters, the Su-57 prioritizes super-maneuverability alongside reduced radar signature, rather than pursuing minimal radar cross-section at all costs. Its design incorporates internal weapons bays, composite materials, and 3D thrust-vectoring engines to balance agility with stealth. The aircraft entered limited service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2020 and remains in low-rate serial production.

What is the F-35?

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a US fifth-generation multirole fighter designed for air superiority, strike missions, electronic warfare, and intelligence operations. It comes in three variants: the conventional F-35A, the short-takeoff/vertical-landing F-35B, and the carrier-based F-35C. While technologically advanced, the F-35 comes with restrictions on the use of non-US weapons systems, which may limit operational flexibility for India.