Russia is set to renew its push to sell the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter to India when President Vladimir Putin meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Friday.
The 18th BRICS Summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi from Friday to Sunday. Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that Putin and Modi will hold a bilateral meeting on Friday.
"We are looking forward to the president and prime minister having another bilateral meeting during the visit. It is scheduled. It is scheduled for Friday, so, as always, they will first touch on the bilateral agenda," Peskov said.
According to Peskov, the sale of the Su-57 to India will also be on the agenda.
The renewed pitch to be made by Putin during his meeting with Modi comes as Russia has been trying for some time to convince India to consider the Su-57 as a stop-gap measure until the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) becomes available to the Indian Air Force (IAF). IAF is currently dealing with a shortage of combat aircraft, as the AMCA is likely to enter service only after 2035.
Putin had recently spoke about Russia's offer to work with India on the Su-57.
"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 said.
He also stressed that Russia was prepared to work with India on developing the aircraft.
"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," he had said.
The Russian offer includes technology transfers, joint production, access to source codes and options for localised manufacturing of the Su-57E.
Russia has also been highlighting the capabilities of the aircraft as it seeks to attract India.
"The key element in achieving air superiority is the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet, which is unparalleled in mass production among modern global aircraft manufacturers," Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces Sergey Kobylash had said some time ago, according to Russian media reports.
But will India change its mind?
Despite the multiple Russian pushes, India has repeatedly turned down offers to buy or manufacture the Su-57 for the IAF.
There is also the history of the earlier Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme. India and Russia held discussions and negotiations for over 10 years on developing and producing a fifth-generation fighter before the project was abandoned. India reportedly remains cautious because of its experience with that programme.
There are other concerns as well.
The IAF already operates a diverse fighter fleet that includes Russian Su-30MKIs, French Dassault Mirage 2000Hs and Rafales, and Anglo-French Jaguars. It has been observed that another fighter type, while India is preparing to field its own fifth-generation aircraft, could increase the burden on the support and sustainment architecture.
Critics of acquiring an interim Su-57 fleet have also argued that operating additional squadrons could divert resources and manpower at a time when India is pursuing its indigenous fighter programme.
However, Russia's argument and that of those who favour the interim procurement centres on the gap before the AMCA becomes available and India's existing shortage of combat aircraft.
With the Su-57 now set to feature on the agenda when Putin meets Modi during the BRICS summit, the question if New Delhi continue to hold out for its indigenous fifth-generation fighter, or finally take another look at Moscow's Su-57 offer, has gained renewed attention.
