Indian Air Force May Get Fifth Generation Stealth Fighter Jet Sukhoi Su-57, After Russia Offers To Export

Russia has made a pitch to export its fabled fifth generation stealth fighter jet Su-57 to the Indian Air Force. The aircraft is touted to be the first built fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, purportedly indigenously built by Russia, reports The Diplomat.

The aircraft's capabilities have already been tested in the combat conditions in Syria and its deliveries to the Russia's Air Force has already begun. The export variant of the jet called Su-57E is also expected to receive the nod from President Vladimir Putin in the coming weeks.

It must be noted though that India has last year (2018) pulled out of co-development and production of the Su-57 for multiple reasons including dissatisfaction with aircraft's flight performance and capabilities gap.

The Russian push for the export of Su-57 to India comes at a time when Indian Air Force has been looking to procure 114 new fighter aircraft for which US's Lockheed Martin and Boeing, France's Dassault, Russian MiG and Sweden's Saab are lobbying to bag a contract.

A point to note about Su-57 though is that Russian government is also expected to offer the Su-57 aircraft to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).