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Russian President Vladimir Putin has renewed Moscow’s offer to India for the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter, proposing joint production in India and promising unrestricted technology cooperation on the programme.
Speaking to international media on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin said Russia remains ready to work with India on the advanced fighter aircraft, describing the Su-57 as among the most capable combat jets currently in service.
“At one point we proposed to our Indian friends to work together on this technology. It’s fifth-generation technology. I think it’s the best in the world as of now,” Putin said.
Recalling earlier discussions between the two countries, he noted that New Delhi had chosen to observe the programme’s progress before making a decision.
“In principle, this could have been our product. We made it independently. And we are ready to work with India to work and develop. There will be no restrictions whatsoever,” he added.
🚨🇷🇺🇮🇳 Putin reveals that Russia offered Su-57 to India as a joint project
“We are ready to supply India with this aircraft, to keep developing it. We don’t have any issues or limitations. Same goes for air defence systems.” pic.twitter.com/tiZr13LJFE
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) June 4, 2026
The latest proposal is understood to include provisions for technology transfer, local assembly, co-manufacturing in India and the integration of Indian-made weapons and systems into the aircraft.
Russia’s pitch centres on the argument that the Su-57 is already operational with the Russian Aerospace Forces and could provide the Indian Air Force (IAF) with a fifth-generation combat capability much sooner than a completely indigenous programme.
The offer also revives memories of the long-discussed Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme, a joint India-Russia venture that was eventually shelved after years of disagreement over costs, technology access and performance parameters. India formally stepped away from the project after concerns emerged regarding its financial viability and the extent of technology transfer.
The Su-57, developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, is Russia’s first operational fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter. Designed for air superiority and precision strike missions, the aircraft combines low-observable characteristics, advanced avionics, electronic warfare capabilities and long-range weapons. It can exceed Mach 2 and has reportedly been deployed in combat operations during the Ukraine conflict.
However, the aircraft has also faced scrutiny from defence analysts over its production rate, sanctions-related supply chain challenges and relatively limited operational experience compared with Western fifth-generation platforms.
India, meanwhile, continues to pursue its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, regarded as the country’s most ambitious military aerospace project. The AMCA is expected to provide the IAF with a homegrown fifth-generation fighter, though induction is not anticipated before the mid-2030s.
Against that backdrop, the Su-57 has emerged as a potential interim option. According to reports, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) remains in contact with Sukhoi regarding possible avenues for cooperation. While New Delhi has not publicly responded to Putin’s latest remarks, it has also not ruled out future collaboration.
The renewed fighter offer comes as India and Russia continue defence cooperation in several areas, including air defence systems. Russian-origin S-400 Triumf missile systems remain a key component of India’s layered air defence architecture and are expected to play an important role in the proposed indigenous “Sudarshan Chakra” air defence network.
Putin’s remarks are likely to reignite debate within India’s strategic community over whether the IAF should acquire an off-the-shelf fifth-generation capability or remain focused on the indigenous AMCA programme despite longer development timelines.
Team BharatShakti
