Russia Courts India with Su-57 Co-Production Pitch at Dubai Airshow 2025

Weeks before President Vladimir Putin’s expected visit to India, Moscow has begun an aggressive outreach to New Delhi’s defence establishment, this time with its most ambitious offer yet: joint production of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet in India, along with what it calls an “unrestricted” transfer of technology.

A senior official from Rosoboronexport confirmed at the ongoing Dubai Airshow that Russia is ready to establish a full-scale manufacturing ecosystem on Indian soil, asserting that, unlike Western suppliers, “our technology transfer comes without restrictions and without the risk of sanctions.”

The timing and the venue are deliberate. As India expands its fighter fleet roadmap, balancing the LCA Mk2, MRFA contest, and future AMCA development, Russia is using the Dubai Airshow to project both capability and reliability. Moscow clearly hopes the Su-57 proposal will appeal to New Delhi’s push for independent production, diversified sourcing, and long-term spares independence, especially as India looks to avoid single-supplier dependence.

India’s Strategic Calculus: Opportunity, Leverage and Regional Optics

For India, the Russian offer lands at a sensitive but potentially advantageous moment:

Leverage in the MRFA Competition

The Su-57 pitch gives India bargaining power in ongoing MRFA and next-gen platform negotiations, enabling New Delhi to push Western bidders toward deeper technology access and battlefield-use transparency.

A Counterweight to China’s J-20 Dominance

A domestically produced Su-57 variant would alter India’s air-power equation vis-à-vis China and could plug capability gaps until AMCA enters full production later in the decade.

A Strengthened “Make in India” Line

Russia’s promise of unrestricted ToT aligns squarely with India’s industrial localisation agenda, something Western governments continue to limit due to intellectual-property and end-use concerns.

Middle East Signalling

India’s close coordination with Gulf partners on defence and logistics means the Su-57 offer lands in a region watching India’s rise as a long-term strategic player.

While India deliberates, Russia has used the Dubai Airshow 2025 as a major international comeback stage. This year’s Russian presence is the largest since 2021, an unmistakable declaration that its defence-industrial base is functioning, exporting and innovating despite Western sanctions.

The Russian pavilion unites United Aircraft Corporation, United Engine Corporation, Almaz-Antey, Russian Helicopters, Tactical Missiles Corporation and several UAV manufacturers in a coordinated mega-display.

The message is clear: Russia intends to maintain its position in the Middle East’s fast-growing defence market and wants India as a flagship partner.

Su-57E Steals the Spotlight in the Gulf

The star attraction is the Su-57E, the export version of Russia’s fifth-generation fighter. Its arrival at Dubai has drawn large delegations from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Central Asian states, all exploring options beyond U.S. and European suppliers.

Russia is positioning the Su-57E as a long-term replacement for ageing 4+ generation fleets in the Middle East and South Asia, and India remains the largest potential customer outside Europe.

Why the Su-57 Matters for India and the Middle East

Fifth-Gen Capabilities Without Geopolitical Strings

Gulf states and India both face U.S. and European restrictions on sensitive avionics, EW suites and co-production rights. Russia is attempting to undercut those limitations by offering deep localisation and sovereign upgrade control.

A Complement to Regional Air-Power Resets

The Middle East is undergoing a generational shift in air-domain doctrine, including the pairing of swing-role fighters with autonomous combat drones. The Su-57E, together with Russia’s broad UAV line-up, is pitched as a ready-made ecosystem.

Filling the “non-Western 5th-Gen” Gap

Currently, only the U.S. and China operate fifth-generation fighters at scale. Russia is positioning itself as the world’s third export-ready supplier, giving countries like India a non-aligned option.

With Putin’s visit approaching, the Su-57 co-production pitch is Moscow’s strongest attempt since the FGFA project to pull India back into a deep fifth-generation collaboration, one that could reshape the regional military balance from the Himalayas to the Gulf.

Whether New Delhi accepts the offer or uses it as leverage with other partners, Russia has made its move, and done so on the biggest aerospace stage in the Middle East.

Huma Siddiqui