As US F-35 Option Looms, India Pushes Negotiations To Build Russian SU 57E Fighter Jets.

New Delhi; January 2026: A bilateral defence deal between Russia and India have entered the deep technical stage of negotiations for the supply and licensed production of the Su-57E fifth-generation stealth fighter, according to information published by the Russian state press agency TASS on January 28th, 2026.

Meanwhile, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation confirmed the discussions during the Wings India 2026 air show, where executives indicated that the talks now center on assembling the aircraft in India, with extensive integration of Indian systems, production facilities, and long-term support infrastructure.

At the core of the discussions is the Su-57E, the export-configured variant of Russia’s Su-57 multirole stealth fighter. Designed to offer many of the core features of its domestic counterpart while complying with international military export controls, the Su-57E is intended for foreign clients interested in 05th generation combat capabilities. The aircraft retains a low radar cross-section design, internal weapons bays, advanced electronic warfare systems, and thrust-vectoring engines for high maneuverability. However, its radar signature suppression, onboard electronics, and data fusion capacity are expected to be adjusted from the Russian Air Force configuration to meet export regulations and safeguard sensitive technologies.

India is emerging as the most serious contender for the Su-57E, and the potential deal goes far beyond simple acquisition. Russian officials have openly stated that both sides are studying the feasibility of producing the aircraft within existing Indian facilities currently used to manufacture the Su-30MKI. This suggests a production-centric model under the “Make in India” framework, involving technology transfer, subsystem integration, and possible co-development of India-specific upgrades.

The Su-57E offer to India comes against a long and layered history of defence collaboration between the two countries, especially in the field of combat aviation. Since the Cold War, India has relied on Soviet and then Russian aircraft to equip much of its Air Force. The MiG-21, MiG-29, and Su-30MKI have all served as backbones of the Indian Air Force across successive decades. The Su-30MKI, in particular, represents a landmark in Indo-Russian defence cooperation, as it was custom-developed for India and produced domestically by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under license.

The Su-57 discussions reflect a continuation of this model but with far greater technological ambition. If finalized, India would become the first foreign customer and manufacturing partner for a fifth-generation Russian platform. This would place India in a unique strategic position globally, making it one of the few nations with indigenous production capacity for a stealth aircraft, alongside the U.S. and China.

The Su-57E negotiations also revive the shadow of the now-defunct FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) program, which was originally conceived as a joint Russia-India development effort based on the Su-57 prototype. That program was shelved in 2018 after India withdrew, citing concerns about cost, capability, and limited workshare. However, the renewed talks suggest those differences may have been recalibrated, with Russia now offering greater industrial participation and customization to suit Indian operational needs.

This evolving partnership may also serve as a counterweight to the perceived strategic dependence on Western suppliers. In recent years, India has diversified its defence imports, acquiring French Rafales and engaging the United States in advanced drone and jet-engine cooperation. Still, Russia remains India’s largest supplier of fighter aircraft and missile systems, and the Su-57E project signals that Moscow continues to be viewed as a critical partner for high-end defence capabilities.

Whether the Su-57E will ultimately outcompete potential Western offerings like the F-35 remains uncertain, but its advantages lie in flexibility, cost, and the willingness to localize production. Unlike the F-35, which is bound by strict export controls and cannot be manufactured outside select U.S. allies, the Su-57E offers India the prospect of strategic autonomy, industrial sovereignty, and long-term access to upgrade pathways.

As of early 2026, the United States has not made a formal offer to sell the F-35 to India, but the aircraft remains under informal consideration as part of the broader US-India defence dialogue.  The US has signaled openness to discussing advanced platforms, especially under the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), but the F-35 program remains tightly controlled by US policy. Export approval for the F-35 requires stringent congressional oversight, end-user guarantees, and alignment with American strategic priorities. India’s continued use of Russian systems, including the S-400 air defence system, and its refusal to join formal alliance structures like NATO or to obtain major non-NATO ally status complicate Washington’s calculus.

The F-35 would offer India access to a proven, networked stealth platform used by NATO air forces, but it would come with significant political and operational constraints. The aircraft is not offered for licensed production, and its software, weapons integration, and maintenance are handled under a highly centralised and restricted framework. India would also have limited freedom to modify the F-35 or integrate indigenous systems. For a country seeking greater defence autonomy and industrial participation, these restrictions are a considerable drawback.

From a performance standpoint, the F-35 has the advantage in terms of battlefield integration, low observability, and combat data processing, having logged extensive operational hours in contested environments. The Su-57E, while still in low-rate serial production, offers superior kinematic performance, greater manoeuverability, and larger internal weapons capacity. Its export version is designed to be adaptable to end users’ needs, making it more attractive to air forces prioritizing versatility over centralized control.

India’s strategic choice will ultimately come down to industrial leverage, platform sovereignty, and the balance between capability and control. The Su-57E is being positioned as a fighter that India can build, adapt, and eventually upgrade on its own terms. The F-35, while technologically advanced, remains an off-the-shelf purchase with tightly managed access and little room for localised innovation.

As Russia and the United States continue to compete for influence over India’s next-generation airpower strategy, the Su-57E negotiations could be a critical inflection point. If the deal proceeds to signature, it would reshape the fifth-generation fighter landscape and confirm that Russia remains a central pillar in India’s long-term defence equation.

Team Maverick.