Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Russia's strong interest in a joint venture with India on the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet, suggesting the aircraft could even be produced in India, following recent sightings of a two-seat variant. Putin stated that Russia has independently developed the Su-57's export version and is ready to collaborate with India without any restrictions, even offering potential assistance in India's own Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. The Indian Air Force, facing fighter jet shortages, has reportedly not entirely rejected the offer, which includes licensed production, technology transfer, and integration of Indian systems, while Russia also expressed readiness to partner on integrated air defence systems.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Russia's strong interest in a joint venture with India on the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet, suggesting the aircraft could even be produced in India, following recent sightings of a two-seat variant. Putin stated that Russia has independently developed the Su-57's export version and is ready to collaborate with India without any restrictions, even offering potential assistance in India's own Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. The Indian Air Force, facing fighter jet shortages, has reportedly not entirely rejected the offer, which includes licensed production, technology transfer, and integration of Indian systems, while Russia also expressed readiness to partner on integrated air defence systems.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Russia's strong interest in a joint venture with India on the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet, suggesting the aircraft could even be produced in India, following recent sightings of a two-seat variant. Putin stated that Russia has independently developed the Su-57's export version and is ready to collaborate with India without any restrictions, even offering potential assistance in India's own Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. The Indian Air Force, facing fighter jet shortages, has reportedly not entirely rejected the offer, which includes licensed production, technology transfer, and integration of Indian systems, while Russia also expressed readiness to partner on integrated air defence systems.

A few weeks after images appeared on various social media platforms, showing a two-seat version of the Russian fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 Felon, the export variant of the aircraft, Russian President Vladimir Putin made another strong pitch to India.

In an interaction with heads of global news agencies on Thursday night, the Russian president, while speaking about the various aspects of India-Russia defence and military ties, said his country is still keen to involve New Delhi in the Su-57 aircraft programme.

He suggested that the combat jet could even be jointly produced in India. 

"As for the Su-57, we offered our friends from India to jointly develop this machine, a fifth-generation aircraft. I think it's the best to date. But our Indian friends said, 'well, let's see'," Putin was quoted as saying, according to news agency PTI.

Confirming that the export variant is already ready with Russia, Putin said, "In principle, this could have been our (Russia-India) product. We made it independently. And we are ready to work with India. To work and develop. There will be no restrictions whatsoever."

As India's ambitious fifth-generation fighter jet programme, Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is still in the initial stages, the Indian Air Force, which is facing a severe shortage of fighter jet squadrons, has not completely said 'no' to the Russian offer, according to media reports. Russia has been offering licensed production of the aircraft, extensive technology transfer, and integration of India-made systems into the aircraft, apart from potential assistance in the development of AMCA, to woo India.

Putin also expressed Russia's willingness to join hands with India in the development of other critical platforms, including integrated air defence systems.

"The same goes for the air defence system," Putin said, explaining that Russia is ready to work with India on air defence systems and related hardware.

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