A top Russian aerospace official claimed Moscow and Delhi are holding technical discussions to explore the possibility of the joint production of the 5th-generation Sukhoi Su-57E fighter jet in India.
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According to news agency TASS, CEO of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Vadim Badekha told Russian reporters recently, "Today, we are in the advanced stage of technical negotiations on this contract. Such contracts, given our experience, determine the trajectory of our cooperation for several decades to come."
However, there was no response from the Indian side to his claim.
Badekha claimed that the parties are also discussing "the licensed production of the Su-57 fighters in India at the facilities currently used to produce the Su-30 aircraft, and the maximum use of Indian industry and Indian systems in this aircraft."
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"Therefore, the contract requires extensive, in-depth study. It is currently in the advanced stage of technical consultations,” Badekha was quoted as saying.
Earlier, the CEO of the state-arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev, announced that the company was offering New Delhi the supply of Su-57E fighter jets, as well as the organisation of their production in India and assistance in developing its own indigenous AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) stealth fighter.
The Su-57, which Russia has been pitching to India for quite some time, is designed to carry out a wide range of combat missions, including engagement of air, ground and maritime targets. It is capable of operating round the clock, in adverse weather and under electronic warfare conditions, while its low observability is intended to reduce vulnerability to modern air defence systems.
Russian experts had earlier claimed that India has been offered the Su-57 with full technology transfer for indigenous production.
