India has rejected the U.S. offer to purchase fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets. It is quite likely that the country will choose the only remaining competitor, namely the russian Su-57.
According to a Bloomberg report, India is seeking joint localized production of fighter jets. Under these circumstances, russia has recently started promoting the Su-57.
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It should be noted that although the F-35 and its components are already manufactured outside the U.S., this production occurs only in NATO countries and Israel, which are American allies. Therefore, it is clear that India's conditions were impossible to meet, at least for security reasons.
On the other hand, many russian weapons, such as Oniks missiles and Su-30MKI fighter jets, are already produced by the Indian defense industry. It should be noted that the latter have a relatively low level of combat readiness within the country's air force.
India has also recently agreed to localize production of French Rafale aircraft, despite issues encountered during conflicts with Pakistan. Accordingly, it is clear that the country will no longer purchase weapons without careful consideration.
As for the Su-57, russia promises not only large-scale localization of production but also a full transfer of technology. We refer to the still unfinished AL-51F1 engines, which have been in development for a long time.
This becomes even more interesting considering that the first 20 to 30 aircraft are expected to arrive within three to four years. The remainder of the order, comprising 70 to 100 units, is expected to be fulfilled by the first half of the 2030s.
It is too early to conclude that India will definitely accept russia's offer. Sanctions have already caused problems with servicing the Su-30MKI, which could discourage India from signing the deal.
On the other hand, the Su-57 currently remains the only alternative to the F-35 for India. This is because its closest competitors are manufactured by China, which automatically excludes them from consideration due to political reasons.
Of course, we could mention Türkiye's KAAN and South Korea's KF-21. However, both aircraft are still in development, with export deliveries most likely scheduled for the 2030s.
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