Su-57 or F-35 For India? 

India stands at a crossroads in its fighter jet acquisition strategy. With the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program underway, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has to make a choice on whether to invest in a foreign fifth-generation fighter such as the Russian Su-57 or the American F-35, or to go entirely for its indigenous stealth fighter development.

This article will examine the capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses of both aircraft, how well they are suited to the IAF’s needs, and if India needs either of them if AMCA is successfully developed.

India’s Fifth-Generation Fighter Requirements

Prior to the selection between Su-57 and F-35, it’s essential to define what the Indian Air Force (IAF) requires from a fifth-generation aircraft. The salient factors are:

Stealth Capability – The aircraft should have low radar cross-section (RCS), radar-absorbing materials (RAM), and internal weapon bays in order to remain undetectable to enemy radars, particularly against competitors like China’s J-20.

Advanced Avionics & Sensor Fusion – The aircraft should be technologically updated; fitted with AESA radar, electronic warfare (EW) systems, and sensor fusion to offer improved situational awareness. It should enable network-centric warfare with real-time data exchange with other aircraft and ground forces.

Supercruise & Manoeuvrability – Long-endurance supersonic cruise without the use of afterburners (super-cruise) enables fuel savings and quick deployment. Thrust vectoring (TVC) and high manoeuvrability guarantee air superiority and dogfight dominance.

Multirole Flexibility – The aircraft should be as effective in the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles, with the use of BVR missiles (Astra Mk2, Meteor), precision-guided weapons, and electronic warfare. A naval variant for India’s aircraft carriers may be a future need.

Operational Costs & Logistics – The fighter should be economical to operate, with minimal maintenance needs and ready availability of spares. F-35’s high cost of operations ($36,000 per flight hour) poses difficulties for India’s long-term sustainability.

Indian Defence Ecosystem Compatibility – Seamless integration with Indian-origin weapons, and indigenous air defence networks must be maintained. Imported aircraft can face restrictions on upgrades and modifications.

In light of these requirements, let’s examine the Su-57 and F-35 up close and determine which, if any, fulfill India’s needs.

Su-57: Russia’s Fifth-Generation Fighter

The Su-57, or PAK FA (T-50), is Russia’s response to fifth-generation stealth fighters. It is a multirole air-superiority fighter. The aircraft has supermanoeuvrability, high-speed performance, and a strong arsenal.

Pros of Su-57 for India

1. Supermanoeuvrability & Dogfighting Superiority

• The Su-57 is the world’s most manoeuvrable fighter, featuring 3D thrust vectoring engines that give unmatched close-range combat manoeuvrability.
• The IAF has traditionally favoured high-manoeuvrability fighters such as the Su-30MKI.

2. Technology Transfer Potential

• Russia has been more forthcoming than the US in transferring technology to India, which would be an advantage for India’s AMCA programme.
• Working with India on the Su-57 could aid in making AMCA stealthier and developing a better engine.

3. Improved Integration into Current IAF Infrastructure

• India’s experience with currently operating Russian-source aircraft (Su-30MKI, MiG-29) simplifies logistics and support.

4. Lower Purchasing Costs Relative to F-35

• The Su-57 has been predicted to be less costly than the F-35 when it comes to initial purchase cost.

Disadvantages of Su-57 to India

1. Stealth Issues

• Stealth on the Su-57 is suspect since it has L-band radar arrays which partially sacrifice stealth for detection of other stealth platforms.
• Usage of composite materials is lower than on the F-35 and potentially makes the Su-57 larger and higher radar cross-section.

2. Reliability Concerns on the Engines

• The Su-57’s AL-41F1 engine, with which it operates now, is not an authentic fifth-generation engine.
• The Izdeliye-30 engine being planned remains under development and has no testing to date.

3. Export Failure & Limited Numbers

• Internationally, the Su-57 has not seen extensive use, with issues related to long-term support.
• Russia inducted extremely limited numbers itself, which could mean there are production issues.

F-35: America’s Stealth Multirole Fighter

F-35 Lightning II is a single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft for air dominance, deep penetration, and electronic warfare. The aircraft comes in three variants (A, B, and C), of which F-35A is of most interest to India.

Advantages of F-35 for India

1. Enhanced Stealth Capabilities

• The F-35 boasts better stealth capabilities with improved radar-absorbing materials and low radar cross-section.
• Making it the best first-strike vehicle to get through advanced adversary air defenses.

2. Advanced Avionics & Sensor Fusion

• Equipped with a Distributed Aperture System (DAS), it gives a 360-degree situational awareness.

• Sensor fusion technology gives unrivalled battlefield awareness, allowing pilots to perceive and trace threats before detection.

3. Interoperability with Western Defence Ecosystem

• The F-35 is well integrated with NATO and Quad allies (US, Japan, Australia), facilitating improved joint operations.
• To enhance military cooperation with the US-led defence community, the F-35 would be an advantageous decision.

4. Battle-Proven & Mass-Produced

• While the Su-57 is not in service anywhere in the world as yet, the F-35 is operational in many countries and has already undergone combat trials.

Cons of F-35 for India

1. High Cost & Stringent US Export Restrictions

• The F-35 is very costly to purchase and maintain.
• The US strict export control regulations (such as CAATSA) may render procurement politically challenging.

2. Single Engine: Hazardous to IAF’s Operational Requirements

• The IAF has always favored twin-engine fighters for security in long-range missions.
• The single-engine configuration of the F-35 poses a survivability issue under high-threat situations.

3. Limited Autonomy in Upgrades

• The US strictly controls alterations, which would result in India having little control over upgrades and software access.

4. Logistical problems

• The F-35 has an infrastructure of maintenance heavily reliant on the US, and this would be problematic for independence of operations.

Does India Even Need Su-57 or F-35?

India has already been working on the AMCA, a future stealth, multirole fighter to meet IAF requirements. In this backdrop, the question is: does India even need Su-57 or F-35?

Also Read, Full List Of Future Programs of Aircrafts In India

Arguments for Buying Su-57 or F-35

1. Bridging Gap Until AMCA is Ready

• AMCA will be delivered to the Air Force only by 2035, and IAF requires the fifth-generation capability earlier. Purchasing a stop-gap Su-57 or F-35 can be utilized to match China’s J-20 and Pakistan’s future acquisitions.

2. Diversifying Fighter Fleet

• A combination of aircraft provides diversity in combat contingencies. Su-57 may supplement India’s Su-30MKI fleet, and the F-35 may assist in creating the network-centric battlespace.

Arguments Against Buying Su-57 or F-35

1. AMCA Priority

• A foreign-jet investment may end up siphoning funds away from the indigenous AMCA program. Far greater strategic value for AMCA is building technological self-sufficiency, and the cost of acquiring and operating foreign fifth-generation fighters need not be sacrificed.

2. Existing Fighter Modernization

• The IAF is already placing acquisitions of the Rafales, Tejas Mk2, and Su-30MKI upgrades to address mid-term threats. If the AMCA follows its development trajectory, foreign fifth-generation aircraft are not required.

Why AMCA Must be India’s First Preference Rather Than Su-57 or F-35

AMCA is India’s largest fighter project. It will develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter based on indigenously developed technology. There are several strategic, technological, as well as geo-political, reasons why it is absolutely the need of the hour that India assigns the highest priority to the AMCA rather than the Su-57 or F-35. It would make India self-sufficient in the long run.

Here’s why:

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1. Strategic Self-Reliance and Autonomy

• Foreign Supplier Dependence is Dangerous
  • If India acquires the F-35, it would be extremely reliant on the US for spare parts, maintenance, and upgrades.
  • Purchasing the Su-57 would make India dependent on Russian defence technology, but this too is limited.
  • If there is tension between nations, one might suspend supplies, putting India in a dilemma.

• AMCA Provides Complete Control
  • By developing AMCA, India will have the freedom to design, modify, and upgrade its own fighter aircraft without any constraints.
  • This aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, minimizing dependence on foreign suppliers.

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2. Long-Term Cost Benefits

• Foreign Fighters are Expensive in the Long Run
  • Operating the F-35 is an expensive proposition at $36,000 per hour, making it a costly long-term investment.
  • The Su-57 has not been tested in large series, and the production woes make it a risk investment.
  • Maintenance costs and software dependencies drive up the long-term cost of ownership over decades.

• Investment in AMCA Saves Future Costs
  • Though AMCA will require enormous upfront investment, the investment will be repaid in the long run as India builds an ecosystem for fighter jet production.
  • India can export AMCA to friendly nations, generating revenue and strengthening its defence manufacturing industry.

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3. India’s Experience with Native Fighters

• Lessons from Tejas Success
  • The HAL Tejas was delayed but is now a tested platform, with advanced variants (Tejas Mk2) in line under development.
  • The experience accrued on Tejas with respect to avionics, composite, and aerodynamics will directly contribute to AMCA’s development.

• Future-Ready Indian Industry
  • India has developed key technologies ahead of time, including Uttam AESA radar, electronic warfare systems, and indigenous weapons.
  • The future Kaveri-powered engine, under development with foreign help, will further boost AMCA’s indigenous capability.

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4. AMCA Can Be Tailored to India’s Requirements

• Foreign Planes Might Not Be Suitable for India’s Requirements
  • The F-35 is optimized for NATO operations, with a single-engine version that the IAF prefers to avoid for long-range operations.
  • The Su-57 gives priority to manoeuvrability over stealth, which may not entirely address IAF’s stealth warfare doctrine.

• AMCA Can be Customized for IAF
  • India can modify AMCA according to Indian operating needs, which include:
    • Twin-engine configuration to provide maximum survivability.
    • Optimised stealth airframe with locally produced radar-absorbing material.
    • Tailor-made weapon integration, in contrast with the F-35, where third-party weapons are restricted.

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5. Timing & Development Progress

• AMCA is Expected by 2035
  • The prototype of AMCA will take to the skies by 2027, and production would start by around 2035.
  • India would already have purchased the Su-57 or F-35 by foreign acquisition and integrated it by then but would be well down the road with AMCA’s development.

• Foreign Fighters Are Not Short-Term Solutions Either
  • The Su-57 is still in limited production, and Russia is struggling to mass-deploy it.
  • The F-35 would need extensive integration with IAF infrastructure, which would take years to become operationally fully ready.

Waiting for a couple of years for AMCA is therefore the smarter option than investing in foreign fighters that are short-term solutions.
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6. India’s Evolving Defence Policy

• Strengthening Domestic Defence Ecosystem
  • India is encouraging indigenous defence production to be a global arms exporter.
  • The indigenous development of AMCA will spur Indian defence industries, create high-tech jobs, and reduce foreign player dependence.

• Strategic Freedom in Foreign Policy
  • Buying the F-35 makes India too aligned with the US, potentially strangling independent foreign policy decision-making.
  • Russia’s Su-57 makes India beholden to Russia, which is sanction-bound and economically unpredictable.
  • Spending on developing AMCA provides India the freedom to keep world relations in balance.

Also Read, Understanding The AMCA Programme

Conclusion: Giving Top Priority to AMCA is the Best Long-Term Solution

While the Su-57 and F-35 both provide cutting-edge capability, neither is aligned with India’s long-term defence vision. Spending on AMCA guarantees technology independence, cost-effective development, and a full custom-made fighter for the IAF.
However, if AMCA is pushed beyond 2035, then India may even then choose a limited foreign purchase as a short-term stopgap. Currently, the choice of preference would be Russia’s Su-57E since Russia extended the ToT to India to locally manufacture the machine at HAL; which is a major breakthrough from the Aero India 2025. This will enable India to tailor the aircraft according to specific operational needs with indigenous systems and subsystems.
Until then, every effort must go towards making AMCA India’s principal fifth-generation fighter.