India to get highly advanced fifth generation fighter jet from…, US and Russia are offering…
New Delhi: India’s Defence Secretary R.K. Singh on Saturday, July 5 indicated that India is seriously considering the option of buying fifth generation fighter aircraft to meet short-term needs. He said that this type of purchase from ‘friendly countries’ is being seen as a strategic option. This statement of the Defence Secretary is very important, and his statement has come at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin is about to visit India.
Which aircraft will India purchase?
India is also building its own indigenous AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) fifth generation fighter aircraft, but it will take at least 8 to 10 years for it to be built and inducted into the Indian Air Force. Although he has not named any country, America has offered F-35 and Russia has offered SU-57 fifth generation fighter aircraft to India.
It has not yet been revealed whether India is currently eyeing the Russian Su-57 or the American F-35. Moscow considers the SU-57 stealth fighter jet to be one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. The Su-57 is a twin-engine multi-role stealth jet, equipped with supersonic speed, advanced avionics and electronic warfare capabilities. India has previously shown interest in this jet, but the matter could not move forward due to some technical and partnership disputes.
When is Vladimir Putin going to visit India?
Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to visit Delhi in September this year to attend the ‘India-Russia Summit’ held every year. Many defense experts believe that until the AMCA is ready to fly, an immediate interim solution is needed to balance the growing airpower of China and Pakistan. Platforms like the Su-57 can give India this interim edge, especially if Russia shows flexibility on its transfer of technology or ‘Make in India’ provisions. Russia has offered to transfer the technology of the SU-57 fighter aircraft to India as well as hand over the source code. Russia has also offered India that if India buys the SU-57, it will provide technological assistance in India’s AMCA programme.
According to defense experts, choosing a fifth-generation fighter aircraft for countries like India has now become a question of not only technology but also strategy and geopolitics.
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