Russian President Vladimir Putin has renewed Moscow’s offer to jointly manufacture the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter aircraft with India, signalling Russia’s willingness to deepen defence-industrial cooperation with New Delhi amid India’s ongoing efforts to modernise its air combat capabilities.
Speaking during a wide-ranging interaction with international news agencies, Putin said Russia remains prepared to share critical technologies related to advanced defence platforms and weapons systems with India.
The proposal comes as India evaluates options to strengthen its future air power capabilities. New Delhi is pursuing its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, but the aircraft is not expected to enter operational service until the mid-2030s.
Recalling previous cooperation efforts, Putin noted that Russia had earlier invited India to participate in the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme, a joint initiative based on the Su-57 platform. India withdrew from the programme in 2018 following concerns related to costs, technology transfer arrangements, and operational requirements.
“At one point, we proposed to our Indian friends to work together on this technology. But back then, our Indian friends said, ‘Go ahead on your own, and then we will see — maybe we’ll join,’” Putin said.
“The aircraft could have been our joint project. We built it independently, but we are ready to work with India in this field,” he added.
India had reportedly invested nearly US$300 million in preliminary design work before exiting the programme. At the time, the Indian Air Force expressed concerns regarding the aircraft’s stealth characteristics, delays in engine development, and the extent of technology sharing available under the partnership.
Since then, Russia’s defence export agency Rosoboronexport has promoted the Su-57 with proposals that place greater emphasis on local manufacturing and technology cooperation, aligning with India’s “Make in India” defence production strategy.
The Su-57, developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau, is designed as a multi-role stealth fighter capable of engaging air, land and maritime targets. The aircraft incorporates supersonic cruising capability, advanced sensors, electronic warfare systems and long-range strike capabilities, while being designed to operate in adverse weather and contested electronic warfare environments.
Russia positions the Su-57 as a competitor to Western fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. However, some defence analysts have argued that the aircraft prioritises manoeuvrability and aerodynamic performance over maximum stealth characteristics, a factor that remains important for countries seeking to operate in heavily defended airspaces.
Russia has continued to upgrade the platform. In 2025, state-owned aerospace company United Aircraft Corporation introduced the new-generation Izdeliye 177 engine, which Moscow says improves thrust and overall flight performance. Russia also recently unveiled a twin-seat variant of the aircraft, featuring a second cockpit designed to coordinate unmanned systems and electronic warfare operations.
Moscow has further highlighted the aircraft’s operational use in Syria and Ukraine, describing the Su-57 as the world’s only combat-tested fifth-generation fighter currently in service.
Despite Russia’s renewed offer, India’s decision is likely to be shaped by broader strategic considerations beyond aircraft performance alone. New Delhi has increasingly focused on technology access, domestic manufacturing, supply-chain resilience and diversification of defence partnerships when evaluating major military acquisitions.
While Russia remains one of India’s longstanding defence partners, New Delhi has expanded defence cooperation in recent years with countries including France and the United States, reflecting a broader strategy of maintaining multiple strategic partnerships while advancing indigenous defence capabilities.
