No foreign fifth-gen fighter for India? Su-57 offer on the table, but India puts all its eggs in AMCA basket

India has made it clear that it has not decided to acquire a fifth-generation fighter aircraft from abroad, highlighting that its focus remains firmly on the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Thursday that India has neither opted for a foreign fifth-generation fighter programme nor taken a decision to pursue one, describing AMCA as the country's chosen path towards acquiring such a capability.

“As of now, we haven't gone, or we haven't taken a decision, to go in for any global or outside fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme. Our programme is AMCA,” Singh said, according to news agency ANI.

The statement assumes significance amid repeated Russian offers of its fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter to India. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also suggested that the fighter could be jointly produced in India as part of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Singh, however, indicated that India's current focus remains entirely on AMCA.

“This is our programme, and we are putting all our eggs in this basket as of now,” he said.

The indigenous fighter programme has now reached the stage where Requests for Proposals (RFPs) have been invited from shortlisted vendors.

According to Singh, the vendors have sought additional time because of the complexity of the programme and because they are entering this space for the first time. The government intends to grant them more time.

The push for indigenous capabilities is also visible in India's plans to strengthen its underwater fleet.

Singh said multiple efforts are underway to strengthen India's underwater capabilities, including Project-75(I), additional Scorpene submarines and the introduction of an indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system.

Project-75(I) has reached the final stage and has been submitted for a decision by the competent authority. “Project-75(I) is at the final stage. It has been submitted and is pending a final decision by the competent authority,” Singh said.

The proposal for additional Scorpene submarines is also under consideration, although Singh said it has not progressed as far as Project-75(I).

He also made it clear that the submarines would be constructed entirely in India.

“Submarines will be entirely built in India, no doubt about it,” he said.

Project-75(I) is being pursued under the strategic partnership model involving the Germans.

India is also looking to install the DRDO-developed indigenous AIP system in one of its submarines when the vessel undergoes a refit around the middle of next year.

Another indigenous capability is set to be introduced across the submarine fleet over time.

Singh said the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) has developed an advanced indigenous integrated combat system for submarines.

The system is planned to be installed across India's submarines as they undergo refits.
“That will again be a major game changer when it comes to improving the combat capabilities of our submarines,” Singh said.