Overview
- Russian President Vladimir Putin told global news agencies at the St. Petersburg forum on Friday that Moscow is ready to jointly develop, produce and supply the Su‑57 fifth‑generation fighter and to cooperate on air‑defence systems.
- Multiple outlets report that state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been in contact with the Sukhoi Design Bureau, but no formal government agreement or contract has been announced.
- New Delhi's External Affairs Ministry said defence ties with Russia remain strong and directed questions on the Su‑57 to the Ministry of Defence, while reports that India is considering about 36 Su‑57s as an interim buy remain unconfirmed and conditional on technical, cost and sanction assessments.
- India left the earlier FGFA/Su‑57 collaboration in 2021 over roughly $30 billion cost estimates and worries about technology transfer and performance, and its indigenous AMCA fighter is unlikely to enter service before the mid‑2030s.
- A revived Su‑57 deal would test India's strategic autonomy and could trigger US sanction concerns, and Putin's planned visit to India for the 2026 BRICS meeting is expected to be the next opportunity to advance talks.