Russian Su-57 or US-made F-35: Which 5th-gen fighter jet will India purchase? Good news for India due to…

The Indian Air Force is about to make a landmark decision to acquire fifth-generation fighter jets. As the retirement of the MiG-21 fleet nears completion, India is likely to acquire 40 advanced jets. Some experts suggest that India will diversify its sources and not rely solely upon one supplier, as per media reports. Instead, India may purchase fighter jets from a group of countries and strengthen its defense capacity.

Which 5th-gen fighter jet will India purchase?

At present, much curiosity exists around what fifth-generation fighter jets will be used in the Indian Air Force. The world possesses just two fifth-generation fighter jets. Russia is the first such country which developed the Sukhoi-57. The second country is the United States, which has the F-35 Lightning, which is already in service in the US and some NATO air forces. Obtaining a deal for these jets should not be very difficult for India. Check their features below.

What are the two main contenders from which India can buy 5th-generation fighter jets?

The two countries from which India could potentially procure fifth-generation aircraft were the United States and Russia. However, the government has not taken any decision on the issue of fifth-generation fighter jets, but discussions are going on in this regard. According to the news agency ANI report, the US has offered the F-35 fighter jet, while Russia has proposed its Su-57 jets for India’s consideration. India had opted out of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGfA) project many years ago, but there is an option to rejoin it.

What are the key features of the Russian Su-57 fighter jet? What is the top speed of the Russian Su-57?

Russia’s newest addition to the fifth-generation fighter jets is the Sukhoi-57. This aircraft is equipped with stealth technology, making it extremely difficult for radar systems to detect. The Sukhoi-57 has a range of approximately 2,000 kilometers, and the ability to manage speeds of Mach 2 – twice the speed of sound. The Sukhoi-57 is also claimed to be able to withstand approximately 9 Gs of force, meaning it can withstand gravitational forces nine times greater than Earth’s gravity.

What are the main features of the US-made F-35 fighter jet? What is the top speed of the US-made F-35?

Several media reports are suggesting India might choose to buy fifth-generation fighters from several countries, with some from Russia and some from the United States. That is also why the American F-35 has been mentioned.

When it comes to speed, the F-35 lags slightly behind Russia’s Sukhoi-57. The F-35 can reach a speed of Mach 1.6 while the Sukhoi can reach speed of Mach 2. When looking at range, the F-35 can travel 1,092 kilometers. The American fifth-generation jet is stealthy, like its Russian renderings, and difficult to detect on radar. The F-35 has been sold to various countries by the US in Europe and outside.

In this possible deal, India is interestingly considered to have the upper hand, mostly due to the favorable deals from both Russia and America offered to India on fifth-generation jets.

If media reports are to be believed, Russia has made a lucrative offer to India. If India purchases the Su-57, it will also be given access to the technology and the manufacturing license for the Su-35. The United States, on the other hand, has indicated that purchasing the F-35 would be a lucrative opportunity that they can capitalize on in a wider trade tariff deal.

F-35A or Su-57, which 5th-gen fighter will India buy?

Both offers are currently under consideration, but India would first, of course, like to choose an option through a calculated decision since there are pros and cons for both the Su-57 and the F-35. The F-35 is already in service with almost 10 air forces worldwide, but there have also been several reports of technical issues and crashes. There have so far been no accusations of technical issues for the Russian Su-57, and they have only been deployed on limited occasions during certain parts of the Ukraine war, which raises concerns about their potential combat tested reliability. At the end of the day, the decision is ultimately, with the Indian Government, and the Indian Air Force at their discretion, weighing strategic interests, performance history, and geo-political considerations.

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