India sets sights on homegrown stealth fighter jets
The Ministry of Defense of India announced that the government in Delhi has adopted a framework plan for building stealth fighters. This information comes amid high tensions in India's relations with Pakistan and reports about attempts to sell Su-57 and F-35 fighters to India.
India has been militarily tied to Russia for a long time. Although they still purchase weapons from Moscow, in recent years, they have clearly opened up to cooperation with others, including Washington. As a result, India has become a very interesting place for the "paper rivalry" of the Su-57 and F-35.
The Russians showcased the Su-57 at the Aero India 2025 fair, where, behind the scenes, they once again offered it as a new aircraft for the Indian Air Force. A few days after this event, the President of the United States met with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and stated that the United States is ready to pave the way for a contract regarding F-35 fighters.
India will build stealth fighters
Ultimately, India may go in a completely different direction. According to sources from Reuters, the government in Delhi has adopted a framework plan for building stealth fighters. The Indian Aeronautical Development Agency is responsible for the project's implementation and will "soon" invite selected defense companies to collaborate on developing a fighter prototype.
Disclosed information indicates that the program's goal is to build a twin-engine 5th generation fighter. Such aircraft include the F-35 and Su-57, although for the latter, some analysts have doubts regarding the most crucial aspect. This concerns the stealth features (low detectability), which are questioned in the Su-57.
An important defense program for India
Reuters noted that the next-generation fighter will be of great significance for the Indian Air Force. A large portion of its current equipment consists of Russian aircraft, as well as old machines dating back to Soviet times. As a result, these forces are significantly inferior to the Chinese. It is also important to note that one of the most advanced Chinese fighters (J-10) is in the arsenal of the Pakistani army, with which India exchanged fire in early May.
The most modern fighters in the Indian Air Force are currently the Rafale fighters acquired from France. The government in Delhi also decided to purchase Rafale M carrier-based aircraft to replace the unreliable Russian MiG-29K.
