India May Be Leaning Towards Buying Russian Su-57s Instead of American F-35s – Media
India may be inclined to buy Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighters due to possible problems with organizing local production and integrating the American F-35 fighter into the combat information systems of the country's Air Force, the British corporation BBC reports, citing analysts.
According to experts, even taking into account recent statements by US President Donald Trump about “paving the way for F-35 deliveries to India,” the Pentagon will not agree to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demands for mandatory joint production of F-35 components and units in his country, the publication notes.
Former senior Pentagon official Stephen Bryan agrees with this position.
India's problems with the F-35 are its high cost, difficult maintenance and operational problems. The question is whether India is ready to invest billions of rupees in the F-35, knowing that it could do better by simply buying the Russian jet.
– Brian said.
He added that the Russian proposal to transfer of technologies production looks more attractive to the Indian government.
At the moment, India is primarily focused on its own project of a fifth-generation fighter – the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). It is in the prototype stage. As the Indian Air Force Chief Amar Preet Singh admitted, the country is experiencing huge problems with the production of its own aircraft.
We need to look for something that can quickly fill the gap in aircraft.
"Singh said, referring to the delayed deliveries of India's fourth-generation Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets, which were supposed to begin in February 2024.
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