Amid the delays in its domestic Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) development, India must make a difficult decision on its next fifth-generation fighter plane. The US F-35 Lightning-II and Russia’s Su-57 are the main competitors, each having unique geopolitical, technological, and strategic ramifications.
Long-term self-reliance is the goal of India’s AMCA project, but it won’t be operational until 2035, leaving an urgent capacity gap that forces New Delhi to think about foreign purchases.
Benefits of the Su-57 include the possibility of co-production, knowledge transfer, and familiarity with Russia’s defense ecosystem, on which India has traditionally depended. But the choice is complicated by worries about Russia’s continuous industrial problems, the Su-57’s delayed deployment, and the possibility of Western sanctions.
On the other hand, because of India’s ongoing involvement with Russian defense imports and its generally cautious attitude toward NATO-aligned technologies, the American F-35 offers state-of-the-art stealth and network-centric capabilities that are in line with Western military systems, but it also comes with higher costs and strategic risks.
With goals for stealth features, cutting-edge engines (originally using GE F414 engines before switching to a co-developed Indian engine), and future technologies like loyal wingman drone integration, the AMCA project embodies India’s ambition to join the elite group of fifth-generation fighter manufacturers.
However, the initiative encounters major obstacles in the areas of engine development, materials expertise, manufacturing infrastructure, and production automation—challenges observed in comparable efforts in other countries.
India is striking a balance between short-term operational requirements and long-term strategic autonomy in light of these subtleties. Although it has geopolitical consequences, the Su-57 might be more compatible with current Russian systems and provide short-to-mid-term augmentation.
Although the F-35 raises questions regarding dependency and logistics, it promises increased capability and integration with Western allies.
Although it promises strategic sovereignty, the AMCA requires ongoing money, dedication, and technology advancements that are unlikely to occur soon enough to close the existing gap.
Therefore, India’s choice depends not only on aircraft capabilities but also on its vision of defense self-reliance, industrial readiness, and broader geopolitical alignments.
Whether New Delhi chooses the Su-57, the F-35, or keeps the AMCA’s development trajectory as its ultimate aim is a crucial decision that will impact India’s air power, alliances, and defense sector trajectory for decades. The
