The geopolitical landscape in South Asia has fundamentally shifted following the intense four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025, reported RT.com.

As China accelerates its fifth-generation fighter production and Pakistan potentially acquires advanced J-35 stealth aircraft, India faces a critical decision point in maintaining aerial dominance. The recent emergency landing of a British F-35B fighter jet in Kerala serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding advanced military aviation technology and foreign dependencies.

The convergence of these events—ranging from the operational challenges of the F-35 to Pakistan's reported acquisition of Chinese stealth fighters—has intensified the debate over India's fifth-generation fighter requirements. With the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) still a decade away from operational deployment, India must navigate between strategic autonomy and immediate operational necessities in an increasingly volatile regional security environment.

Comprehensive comparison of fifth-generation fighter aircraft showing cost, speed, range, and stealth capabilities


The Changing Strategic Environment: India-Pakistan Confrontation

The May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan, triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians, marked a significant escalation in South Asian military tensions. Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory campaign launched on May 7, demonstrated both the effectiveness of India's current capabilities and the urgent need for advanced platforms.

During the four-day conflict, India successfully employed BrahMos cruise missiles to strike deep into Pakistani territory, hitting six major air bases including Nur Khan, Sargodha, and Jacobabad. The precision strikes, conducted using both older Block-I and Block-II BrahMos variants, penetrated Pakistani air defences and destroyed significant military infrastructure, including Chinese-origin J-17 Thunder and J-10C aircraft. Pakistan's defence minister revealed that military commanders had only 30-45 seconds to determine whether incoming BrahMos missiles carried nuclear warheads, highlighting the dangerous proximity to nuclear escalation.

The conflict showcased India's current technological advantages while simultaneously revealing the limitations of Pakistan's air defence systems. However, it also underscored the rapidly evolving nature of aerial warfare and the critical importance of maintaining technological superiority in an increasingly complex regional security environment.

Pakistan's Potential J-35 Acquisition

Reports emerged in 2025 suggesting that China offered Pakistan 40 J-35A stealth fighters, along with KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft and HQ-19 air defence systems. The proposed deal, valued at approximately $4.6 billion, would mark China's first export of fifth-generation fighters and potentially shift the regional balance of power.

However, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif subsequently denied that any formal agreement had been finalized, dismissing the reports as "media chatter" and suggesting they served primarily to boost Chinese defence sales. The denial raises questions about Pakistan's ability to finance such an expensive acquisition, given its reliance on IMF loans and ongoing economic challenges.

Despite official denials, defence analysts note that Pakistani pilots have reportedly trained in China for over six months on the FC-31 export variant of the J-35. If the acquisition proceeds, it would place Pakistan in an elite group of nations operating stealth fighter technology, potentially altering the South Asian aerial balance until India can field its own fifth-generation capabilities.

Implications For F-35 Acquisition

The F-35 incident occurred against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's offer to supply F-35 fighters to India. During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's February 2025 visit to Washington, Trump announced plans to increase military sales to India and facilitate F-35 acquisitions. However, the protracted repair process in Kerala raised questions about the practical challenges of operating F-35s in the Indian context.

The F-35's sophisticated technology, while providing unmatched capabilities, requires extensive support infrastructure that may not be readily available in all operational environments. For India, which values strategic autonomy and operational independence, the Kerala incident highlighted potential vulnerabilities associated with high-tech foreign platforms that require specialized Western support systems.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's cautious response to Trump's offer, describing it as merely "a proposal" without formal negotiations, reflected India's traditional wariness of defence partnerships that might compromise its strategic autonomy. The F-35's troubled stay in Kerala served as a practical demonstration of these concerns.

The Su-57 Option: Opportunities And Challenges: Technical Capabilities And Combat Proven Performance

The Sukhoi Su-57 "Felon" represents Russia's premier fifth-generation fighter, combining advanced stealth technology with exceptional manoeuvrability and multi-role capabilities. The aircraft has been operationally tested in both Syria and Ukraine, providing valuable combat experience that distinguishes it from other fifth-generation platforms that remain untested in actual warfare.

The Su-57's design incorporates sophisticated stealth features including radar-absorbing materials, internal weapons bays, and shaped surfaces that reduce its radar cross-section to significantly lower levels than fourth-generation aircraft. While not achieving the absolute stealth performance of the F-22 or F-35, the Su-57 maintains sufficient low observability for most operational scenarios while preserving the agility advantages of Russian fighter design philosophy.

The aircraft's twin AL-51F1 engines provide impressive thrust-to-weight ratios and three-dimensional thrust vectoring capabilities. This enables super-manoeuvrability including controlled high-angle-of-attack flight regimes that provide significant advantages in close-quarters combat scenarios. The Su-57 can super-cruise at Mach 1.3 and reach maximum speeds of Mach 2.0.

Integration With Existing Systems

India's extensive experience operating Russian-origin aircraft provides significant advantages for Su-57 integration. The IAF already operates approximately 60% Russian-origin platforms, including 272 Su-30MKI fighters that share technological heritage with the Su-57. This existing infrastructure including maintenance facilities, training systems, and supply chains could support Su-57 operations with minimal additional investment.

The Su-57's weapon systems compatibility includes long-range R-37M air-to-air missiles with ranges exceeding 300 kilometres. These hypersonic-capable missiles provide significant beyond-visual-range engagement capabilities that could complement India's existing BrahMos inventory. The aircraft can also integrate Indian-developed weapons systems through the proposed technology transfer arrangement.

Operational synergies with existing Su-30MKI fleet include common training programs, maintenance procedures, and tactical integration concepts. This familiarity could accelerate Su-57 induction timelines compared to entirely new Western platforms requiring comprehensive new support ecosystems.

Conclusion

The convergence of regional threats, technological developments, and capability requirements presents India with a critical decision point in its air power modernization journey. The May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict demonstrated both the continuing relevance of conventional air power and the growing importance of advanced technologies in determining operational outcomes. China's expanding stealth fleet and Pakistan's potential acquisition of fifth-generation fighters create an urgency that cannot be addressed through indigenous programs alone.

The Su-57 offers a pragmatic solution that balances immediate capability requirements with long-term strategic autonomy objectives. Its combat-proven performance, technology transfer potential, and cost advantages make it an attractive option for bridging the gap until AMCA reaches operational status. The aircraft's compatibility with existing Russian-origin systems and infrastructure provides additional operational synergies.

However, sanctions risks and geopolitical complications require careful consideration. India's strategic autonomy depends on avoiding excessive dependence on any single supplier while maintaining operational effectiveness. The Su-57 acquisition should be structured to complement rather than substitute for indigenous development efforts.

The path forward requires decisive action across multiple fronts: immediate capability acquisition through selective foreign procurement, accelerated indigenous development through enhanced public-private partnerships, and long-term industrial base development that supports technological sovereignty. The cost of inaction—measured in strategic vulnerability and missed opportunities—far exceeds the risks of bold decision-making in the current security environment.

India's air superiority is indeed at stake, but the nation possesses the resources, partnerships, and indigenous capabilities to meet this challenge. The Su-57 option represents one component of a comprehensive approach that must be implemented with urgency and strategic vision. The time to act is now, before the window of opportunity closes and regional air power balances shift irreversibly against Indian interests.

RT.Com Report