by Sourabh Joshi

China is currently operating more than 200 J-20 5 gen fighters another 5th gen variant J 31/35 is also being tested at an advance stage and close to induction, further indication are there that another troublesome neighbour Pakistan is about receive J35 by next summer fuelling urgency among Indian defence planners to wield an 5th generation fighter of its own to counter balance the situation.

India’s own indigenous 5th generation platform AMCA is still at least a decade away if not more, hence our only options are F35 or Su57, F35 come with lot of strings attached, high maintenance and dependency on US, SU 57 is now available to India with 100% TOT and full source code access , is it the right choice for India?

As the global race toward fifth-generation air dominance intensifies, India stands at a critical crossroads. While the indigenous AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) project makes promising strides but at best it remains a decade away from induction, spooked with prospects of both neighbours and principal adversaries yielding a 5th gen platforms Indian planners are scrambling for options for its 5th generation platforms, the options are not too many either India can purchase the current best 5th gen platform F-35 off the shelf from US and tie itself with terms and conditions come with it or Curate a Su-57MKI, like it did with Su-30MKI in first decade of this century, making it a potential game-changer tailored for India’s unique defence doctrine.

Filling The Fifth-Gen Heavy Fighter Gap

India’s current 5th-gen development, the AMCA, falls in the MWF (Medium Weight Fighter) category. While suited for surgical strikes and air dominance in high-threat environments, it doesn’t replace the heavyweight multi-role punch of platforms like the Su-30MKI. The Su-57MKI — a customised variant of Russia’s premier stealth fighter — could serve as India’s fifth-generation heavy fighter, offering deep penetration capabilities, long-range deterrence, and unmatched endurance.

Full Sovereignty With Customisation

A key draw of the Su-57MKI lies in India’s potential full control over platform customisation. Unlike Western fighters constrained by black boxes and software locks, this deal could grant India sovereign access to:

• Virupaksha GaN-based AESA radar for superior tracking and jamming resistance

• Indigenous infrared search and track (IRST) systems

• Indian-developed mission computers and avionics

• Customised software and EW suite integration

• Israeli sensors and data-links for enhanced electronic warfare and situational awareness

Such deep integration would not only elevate combat performance but also boost India’s defence-industrial ecosystem.

Synergy With India’s Air Defence Ecosystem

The Su-57MKI could be seamlessly networked into the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) — India’s central nervous system for air defence. It would operate in concert with:

• S-400 and future S-500 missile batteries

• MR-SAM / Kusha, Akash, and Barak-8 air defence units

• Indigenous command nodes and AWACS

This interconnectivity transforms the SU-57 into a stealthy forward sensor node, extending the range and reach of India’s layered air defence shield. Thus SU-57 is not stealthy attack aircraft alone it’s also a stealth aircraft hunter created for air superiority and dominance in the league of F-22 raptor.

Multi-National Weapons Compatibility

Another advantage of the Su-57MKI lies in its weapons versatility. With indigenous customisation, the aircraft could field:

• Astra MK-2 and MK-3 'Gandiva' beyond-visual-range missiles

• BrahMos-NG for anti-ship and ground-strike missions

• Rudram-2/3 for SEAD/DEAD roles

• Israeli SPICE, Rampage, and I-Derby ER missiles

This flexibility in payload allows the IAF to leverage its diverse missile inventory across a stealthy 5th-gen platform.

Commonality With Super Sukhoi

India’s plan to upgrade its Su-30MKI fleet into “Super Sukhois” includes the AL-51F (Izdeliye 30) engine, also slated for the SU-57. This results in:

• Shared logistics and maintenance lines

• Reduced training burden for pilots and technicians

• Simplified spares management and MRO ecosystem

Such synergy significantly enhances operational readiness while lowering lifecycle costs.

Cost-Effective Sovereignty

Unlike the prohibitively expensive F-35 or the hard-to-access Tempest/FCAS programs, the Su-57MKI promises:

• Lower acquisition costs, especially with local production

• Access to source codes and core technologies

• Freedom to evolve the aircraft to meet future threats

This positions India not merely as a buyer, but as a co-developer and long-term partner in next-gen aerospace.

Strategic Posture And Future-Proofing

In an era of emerging threats from China’s J-20 fleet and possible Pakistan-China stealth collaborations, India cannot afford to delay its heavy 5th-gen induction. The Su-57MKI allows India to:

• Leap ahead in operational stealth deployment

• Modernise its deterrent capability without waiting for AMCA timelines

• Enter 2030s with a balanced, dual-tier 5th-gen fleet

Conclusion: The Time Is Now

The Su-57MKI offers a rare combination of capability, control, and customisation. It fills a glaring operational gap, enhances strategic deterrence, and empowers Indian aerospace players. With India preparing for a multi-domain future, this aircraft could well be the bridge to not just 5th-gen warfare—but true aerospace autonomy.

Sourabh Joshi writes on national security, military technology, strategic affairs & policies. This piece is being published as it has been received – it has not been edited/fact-checked by IDN. This essay reflects author's opinions alone