Why India Should Avoid the Russian Su-57: Strategic Risks and Indigenous Alternatives

Sep 30, 2025 05:20 pm CST

The Indian Air Force's consideration of the Russian Su-57 as a stopgap fifth-generation fighter presents significant strategic concerns. This analysis examines why such procurement would undermine India's aerospace sovereignty, compromise security with Chinese-dependent components, fail to address immediate capability gaps, and potentially sabotage indigenous fighter development programs like the AMCA. Rather than pursuing this problematic Russian platform, India should prioritize accelerating domestic production and selectively bridging gaps with proven alternatives.