India's Fifth-Generation Fighter Gap Gives Fresh Life to Russia's Su-57 Offer |
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Chandigarh: Amid growing concerns in the Indian Air Force (IAF) over Pakistan’s prospective acquisition of China’s Shenyang J-35AE stealth fighters, Russia is reportedly intensifying efforts to persuade New Delhi to procure limited numbers of its Sukhoi Su-57. Moscow maintains that these would enable the IAF to bridge a potential fifth-generation capability gap should the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) induct the J-35 in the near term. It argues that the Su-57 provides a stopgap capability until the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), currently under development, enters service in the mid-2030s.
In a related development, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday (May 27) issued a Request for Proposal to three shortlisted domestic companies, inviting bids for the AMCA programme within three months. These included Tata Advanced Systems Ltd competing independently, a consortium led by Larsen & Toubro along with Bharat Electronics Ltd and Dynamatic Technologies, and a third consortium comprising Bharat Forge, Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Data Patterns.
According to the MoD proposal seeking formal technical and commercial bids, the selected entity will partner with the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Defence Research and Development Organisation to develop five flying AMCA prototypes and one structural test aircraft. The first prototype is expected to roll out by 2029, initially powered by the US-origin General Electric F414 engine. Its maiden flight is mandated within 30 months of contract signing.
The selected vendor would also be required to complete 1,800 test sorties within a strict 84-month timeline, after which AMCA series production is expected to commence, around 2035-36. Thereafter, the IAF plans to induct seven squadrons, or around 140–150 aircraft.
The AMCA is expected to feature advanced avionics, an advanced indigenous electronic radar system, the AESA, and the ability to carry weapons both internally for stealth missions and externally for heavier combat loads. The later upgraded Mark 2 versions of the aircraft are expected to incorporate more powerful indigenous or jointly developed powerplants than the GE F414. This could potentially happen in collaboration with France’s Safran or Britain’s Rolls-Royce.
Industry officials said the AMCA programme also marks a departure from India’s traditional Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-centric aerospace structure. It positions private industry not simply as suppliers but as lead integrators in India’s most ambitious domestic combat aircraft project.
These indigenous developments are unfolding against a backdrop of growing concern within Indian strategic circles over Pakistan’s prospective fifth-generation capabilities.
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