Su 57e, su 35m fighter jet
Russia has offered a strategic and powerful defense deal to India to further strengthen the defense partnership between India and Russia as well as to meet the shortage of squadron of the Indian Air Force. This includes Sukhoi SU-57 fifth generation stealth fighter and SU-35M 4.5m-generation Air Superiority Fighter. According to sources, this offer has been made by Russia's government company Rostec and Sukhoi recently, under which India has been offered to transfer the entire technology of SU-57E fighter jet to India. So that it can be built in the Nashik plant of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This plant has so far made more than 220 SU-30mki jets. Apart from this, a direct supply of SU-35M has also been offered for IAF's MRFA tender (114 jets).
What is special in Russia's offer?
Russia will provide SU-57e Stealth Fighter Jets to the Indian Air Force in the first phase in the first phase. After this, construction of these aircraft will be started in India in the next 3 to 4 years. Under this, about 60 to 70 state -of -the -art stealth fighters can be included in the Indian Air Force by 2030. Also, Russia has also offered SU-35M fighter under the MRFA tender for the Indian Air Force (IAF). 114 jets will be supplied directly to India. The SU-35M will have a SU-30MKI system. This will not require much training to the pilot and technical staff. In this deal, new advanced engine AL-41F1S and Ijdeli 177S (1izdeliye 177s) will also be found. This will also upgrade SU-30mki. The new engine is more powerful and durable.
SU-57e is Russia's most advanced stealth fighter jet. In its export version, India will be allowed the entire source code access and local construction up to 40-60% in HAL Nashik. With this, India will be able to include its missiles, such as Estra BVR, Rudram Anti-Redressing Missile, and Virupaksha AESA radar in this fighter jet. This initiative will strengthen the 'Make in India' and 'self -reliant India' campaigns and will provide India an important opportunity to develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft domestically. The AMCA program will also help in new technology.
The SU-35M which is competing with fighters like Rafale, F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-21. The Indian Air Force will be directly supplied to increase squadron strength. The Indian Air Force currently has 31 squadrons, while the approval is 42. Rostec claims that SU-35M and SU-30MKI have 70-80% technical equality, which will not require much training for IAF pilots and ground crew. Recently, SU-30MKI also proved this by strike with a BrahMos missile on the base of Pakistan Air Force at Operation Sindoor. Rostec has doubled the production of SU-35M fighter aircraft due to Ukraine War. With this, a large number of these jets can be supplied to India every year, so that about 2 squadron i.e. 36 to 40 fighter aircraft can be deployed in the next 2 to 3 years.
SU-35M priced less than Rafael and F-35
The price of SU-35M fighter jet is around 65 to 80 million dollars per jet. In comparison, the price of Rafale is around $ 120 million per jet, and F-35A costs between 80 and 100 million dollars. That is, SU-35M is cheaper than the rest of the jets. SU-35M may also have advance weapons, such as the R-37M hypersonic missile which has a firepower of 400 km, as well as the K-77M BVR missile. This strength makes it stronger in high areas like Himalayas or against Pakistan's J-10C and future J-35 fighter jets. However, there are some challenges in it. India's CAATSA law may be banned due to the CAATSA law, as in the S-400 missile system. Also, there have been problems in the supply of old plates on Russia.
Will Rafael be behind?
The Indian Air Force (IAF) also likes Rafael, which is already included in the Air Force in the number of 36. Rafael costs high, but it is reliable. At the same time, SU-35M is cheaper, strong and it can also be used for long range hypersonic missiles which will be used to deal with Pakistan's J-10C and future J-35.
What will be the benefit of this deal?
If this deal is final, then SU-57E fighter aircraft will be built in India only. This will give great strength to campaigns like 'Make in India' and 'self -reliant India'. Also, the old SU-30mki fighter jets will be upgraded with new and new engines, so that they will work till 2055. Overall, this proposal gives India an opportunity to make India a indigenous Fifth Generation Fighter, to provide new technology to AMCA and increase the power of IAF quickly.
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