Su-57’s full code offer to India.

Defence affairs - Bulgarian military.

This development, reported in early June 2025, positions Russia in direct competition with the United States, which has been pitching its F-35 Lightning II to the Indian Air Force. The offer, described by analysts as a strategic gambit, aims to secure Russia’s influence in India’s defense market while countering growing U.S.-India military ties.

For India, the deal represents a pivotal opportunity to bolster its air capabilities amid rising regional tensions, particularly with China and Pakistan. The inclusion of the Su-57E’s source code could reshape India’s defense strategy, offering unprecedented control over a cutting-edge platform and raising questions about the future of its indigenous fighter program.

The Su-57E, an export variant of Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, is a twin-engine, multirole aircraft designed to compete with the world’s most advanced jets. Developed by Sukhoi, a subsidiary of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, the Su-57—known by its NATO reporting name “Felon”—first flew in 2010 and entered service with the Russian Air Force in 2020.

The aircraft boasts a maximum speed of Mach 2, a combat radius of approximately 1,500 kilometers, and a payload capacity of up to 10 tons, including air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. Its stealth features, achieved through radar-absorbent materials and a sleek aerodynamic design, reduce its radar cross-section, though some analysts argue it lags behind Western counterparts like the F-35 in this regard.

The Su-57E is equipped with an advanced avionics suite, including the Sh-121 radar system with active electronically scanned array technology, capable of tracking multiple targets simultaneously.

Its supermaneuverability, enabled by thrust-vectoring engines, allows it to perform complex aerial maneuvers, making it a formidable platform for air superiority missions. The jet’s versatility extends to electronic warfare and precision strikes, with the integration of hypersonic weapons like the Kinzhal missile reported in recent years.