Behind Closed Doors, India Is Reconsidering a Fighter Jet It Once Rejected
Image Credit: Leonardo AI
- India is reconsidering Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighter amid growing gaps in air force capabilities.
- The Indian Air Force currently operates only 31 squadrons against a required strength of 42.
- China’s deployment of J-20 stealth fighters has increased the urgency for India’s modernization.
- Russia has offered local production and full technology transfer under the Make in India initiative.
- India continues to invest billions in the Rafale, Tejas, and indigenous AMCA stealth fighter programs.
Table of Contents
- India’s Strategic Reality Has Changed
- The Fighter Squadron Crisis Explained
- China’s Stealth Expansion and Regional Balance
- Technology Access and Industrial Sovereignty
- India’s Largest Defence Deals (Verified Data)
- The Critical Time Gap Before AMCA
- India’s Multi-Alignment Strategy
- The Decision That Will Define India’s Air Power Future
India’s Strategic Reality Has Changed Faster Than Expected
Military modernization rarely follows perfect timelines. Nations plan decades ahead, but real-world threats evolve faster than procurement cycles. India’s reconsideration of the Su-57 stealth fighter reflects this exact reality. What made sense in 2018 does not necessarily make sense in 2026.
India initially exited the joint Su-57 development program because it prioritized indigenous development and had concerns about technology access and aircraft performance. At the time, India believed its own programs, especially AMCA and Tejas, could deliver long-term solutions.
However, modern air warfare has entered a new technological phase. Stealth aircraft, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare now determine battlefield outcomes. The difference between stealth and non-stealth aircraft is not incremental; it is transformational. Stealth aircraft often detect and engage opponents before being detected themselves.
Russia’s renewed offer includes local manufacturing and deeper industrial access, according to verified reporting from Reuters. This shift transforms the Su-57 offer from a simple purchase into an industrial partnership. This distinction matters enormously because modern defense strength depends not just on owning weapons, but on understanding and producing them.
The Fighter Squadron Crisis Is Real and Urgent
The Indian Air Force officially requires 42 combat squadrons to handle potential simultaneous threats from both China and Pakistan. However, according to India’s Ministry of Defence, the current strength remains around 30–31 squadrons.
This gap is not just statistical; it is operational. Each squadron represents aircraft, trained pilots, maintenance crews, logistics infrastructure, and operational readiness. Losing squadrons reduces flexibility, response time, and deterrence capability.
Aircraft retirement has accelerated faster than replacement. MiG-21 fighters, once the backbone of India’s air force, have reached the end of their operational lifespan. These aircraft served India for over five decades, but modern threats demand newer technology.
Air superiority determines battlefield outcomes even before ground forces engage. As explained in the analysis of real military power versus paper strength, operational capability matters more than theoretical numbers.
Simply put, nations cannot defend a vast airspace without sufficient aircraft.
China’s Stealth Expansion Has Changed Asia’s Military Balance
China’s deployment of the J-20 stealth fighter has reshaped regional air power. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), China continues to expand its stealth fleet rapidly.
Stealth aircraft provide several decisive advantages:
- Reduced radar visibility
- Improved survivability
- Enhanced electronic warfare capability
- Superior situational awareness
This technological advantage affects deterrence. Military power depends as much on perception as reality. If adversaries believe one side holds technological superiority, they adjust their strategy accordingly.
Technology Access Matters More Than Aircraft Alone
Modern fighter jets represent one of the most complex machines ever built. They combine aerospace engineering, advanced materials, software systems, radar technology, and propulsion systems.
Countries that build fighters gain far more than military capability. They gain technological ecosystems that drive broader economic and industrial growth.
India’s emphasis on technology access aligns with lessons from previous defense partnerships discussed in hidden clauses in global arms deals, where industrial access often determines long-term strategic benefits.
Local production also protects supply chains during geopolitical crises. History shows foreign supply chains can become unreliable during conflict.
India’s Largest Defence Deals and What They Reveal
| Deal | Approval / Signing Date | Supplier | Value | Purpose | Source |
| 36 Rafale Fighter Jets | 2016-09-23 | Dassault Aviation (France) | €7.87 billion | Air superiority and multirole combat capability | Dassault Aviation |
| S-400 Air Defense Missile System (5 units) | 2018-10-05 | Almaz-Antey (Russia) | $5.43 billion | Long-range air and missile defense | Reuters |
| 83 Tejas Mk1A Fighter Jets | 2021-02-03 | HAL (India) | ₹48,000 crore ($6.5 billion) | Indigenous fighter fleet expansion | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
| 56 Airbus C-295 Transport Aircraft | 2021-09-24 | Airbus Defence & Space | ₹21,935 crore ($2.7 billion) | Military transport modernization | Airbus Official |
| 26 Rafale Marine Fighter Jets | 2023-07-13 (Approved) | Dassault Aviation (France) | ₹63,000 crore ($7.6 billion) | Aircraft carrier INS Vikrant air wing | Reuters |
| GE F-414 Jet Engines for Tejas Mk2 (99 engines) | 2023-06-22 | General Electric (USA) | $3 billion | Indigenous fighter engine production | GE Aerospace |
| 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) Tender (Proposed) | 2024–2026 (Planned) | Multiple (Dassault, Boeing, Sukhoi, Lockheed) | $20–35 billion (estimated) | Largest fighter acquisition in India's history | Reuters |
These investments demonstrate India’s long-term commitment to air power modernization.
India’s fighter acquisition strategy also connects with evolving defense diplomacy, as discussed in India-UAE defense cooperation developments.
The Time Gap Before AMCA Becomes Operational
India’s AMCA stealth fighter represents its long-term vision. According to DRDO, AMCA will provide stealth capability and indigenous production.
However, development timelines extend into the 2030s. This creates a capability gap that interim solutions must address.
India’s Balanced Strategy Protects Strategic Independence
India maintains defense relationships with Russia, Europe, and the United States. According to SIPRI, this balanced approach prevents dependence on any single supplier.
India’s strategic flexibility strengthens long-term security and autonomy.
Beyond procurement, India invests in joint exercises, technology transfers, and co-development programs. Collaborations like the Indo-French Rafale deal and U.S.-India defense technology sharing allow India to absorb advanced capabilities while retaining operational sovereignty, a key consideration in a multipolar world.
Geopolitical context reinforces this approach. As tensions rise in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, India’s diversified partnerships provide leverage in diplomacy and conflict deterrence. This ensures that critical defense infrastructure, from air defense to naval assets, remains resilient even if a single supplier faces sanctions, restrictions, or geopolitical pressures.
The Decision That Will Define India’s Air Power for Generations
India’s reconsideration of the Su-57 reflects strategic realism, not uncertainty.
India must balance immediate operational needs with long-term industrial independence.
This decision will shape India’s military capability, aerospace industry, and geopolitical position for decades.
India is not simply buying aircraft. It is building its future air power foundation.