Why India needs fifth-generation fighter jets: As global skies witness continuous geopolitical tensions including the recent India-Pakistan tensions, India finds itself at a crossroads where its air force needs next-generation firepower or most importantly a fifth-generation fighter jet, it has to choose sides between the US and Russia. We all know that India needs fifth-generation fighter jets because the Sukhoi fleets of the Air Force will be retiring soon and after that, India will left with very fewer aircrafts in comparison to its enemies in Pakistan and China who have advanced 5th to 6th generations aircrafts in the making.

The urgent need for fifth-generation fighter jets is clear, yet the country remains undecided on whether to go foreign or wait for its own ambitious AMCA project.

American F-35 and Russian Su-57: Which one to choose?

While the American F-35 and Russian Su-57 are being considered, both come with challenges. Be it system incompatibility, political risks, or integration hurdle, both the aircrafts comes with serious geopolitical consequences. If India chooses American F-35 aircraft, it will have to bear significantly higher cost along with an incompatibility with its mostly Russian-imported defence items.

Readers should note that with AMCA still a decade away, experts warn that relying solely on current fleets could leave the Indian Air Force underpowered in the years ahead.