On 4 June 2025, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation stunned New Delhi with a bold proposal. Moscow offered India the Su-57E stealth fighter and full access to its source code. Such access would let India embed home-grown avionics and weapons under its Make-in-India drive. Indian officials note this latitude eclipses anything previously granted by Western suppliers. The offer collides head-on with Washington’s rival F-35A pitch, sharpening Indo-Pacific rivalry.
The Su-57E is Russia’s most sophisticated fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighter intended for export markets. Designed by Sukhoi and produced by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the Su-57E features low observability, supercruise capability, and advanced sensor fusion. The version being proposed to India includes an AESA radar using Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology and an Indian-developed mission computer. These systems align with the ongoing Super-30 upgrade of the Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI fleet. Moreover, the Su-57E would be capable of operating Indian-designed munitions such as the Astra Mk1 and Mk2 beyond-visual-range missiles, Rudram anti-radiation missiles, and indigenous precision-guided air-to-ground weapons, reducing India’s dependency on foreign-supplied weaponry.