The IAF currently has 31 fighter squadrons instead of its authorised 42. This gap creates real challenges when choosing a new fighter plane for India’s mixed air fleet and to increase its numerical strength. The IAF is getting older day-by-day and requires much maintenance, as at any given time one squadron is stationed for maintenance, added to the fact that most of these planes are also scheduled for early phase-outs.
In this background there has been a lot of activity and promotion, both by the US and Russia to sell their F-35 and Su-57 fighter planes to India.
Meanwhile, India has its own plans to develop a fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), but its first prototype will not be ready until the mid-2030s. And then also the production may take another ten years to formalise. The United States, Russia, and China are the only nations operating Fifth Generation stealth fighter jets today.
By the time India AMCA will be a reality, Chinese forces will likely have deployed about 1,000 J-20 Mighty Dragons by then, besides exporting them to Pakistan, thus creating a substantial air power imbalance across the region. India’s air defence strategy thus faces a vital decision between Russia’s Su-57 and America’s F-35 or any other fighter plane to fill the shortfall at the earliest.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has made his displeasure known several times publicly with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), for not being able to supply the Tejas fighter planes as per schedule. However, recently a major impediment to HAL’s efforts to supply the planes, as per schedule was eased when the American GE Aerospace shipped the first of 99 GE’s F404-IN20 engines to HAL, last month. However, overcoming this obstacle might not immediately allow the IAF to get the desired number of planes available at the earliest.
The IAF currently has 31 fighter squadrons instead of its authorised 42. This gap creates real challenges when choosing a new fighter plane for India’s mixed air fleet and to increase its numerical strength
So, the buzz around India choosing between F-35 or Su-57 continues unabated. But deciding between the two latest fighter aircraft is not a simple decision, says former Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (Retd), as it is not feasible to do a one-to-one comparison, since issues of integrating the chosen aircraft with existing weapon systems would have to be considered, deciding between the two latest fighter planes is not a joke and also it is not feasible, as both these fighter planes claim to be 5th Gen fighters. Though technically a lot more is known about the F-35, very little details are known about the Su-57. As F-35 has been deployed in many countries, but the Su-57 has not flown outside Russia.
Last month, the US President Donald Trump offered Prime Minister Narendra Modi a proposal for India to purchase the advanced American F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets. Meanwhile, the Russian defence exporter Rosoboronexport has also increased its efforts to sell its fifth-generation fighter Su-57E to India.
Still, it is not going to be an easy task to decide between the two aircrafts. Giving a more clear picture, former Air Vice Marshal Sanjay Bhatnagar (Retd) opines that to make a comparison between the two fighters and assess whether they’ll be a good fit for the IAF’s requirements, several critical specifications have to be matched in terms of their stealth capability, their avionics systems, their payload etc., and these would be crystal clear only when the IAF conducts a Comprehensive Analysis of the two crafts, besides the challenges posed by the varied Indian terrain from east to west, as was done when the Rafale fighter planes were purchased by India, after a complete MRFA Assessment.
Broadly, Su-57 delivers remarkable capabilities with its Mach 2 speed and compatibility with hypersonic missiles. Whereas, the F-35 stands out with proven reliability from over 1,000 units operating worldwide and enhanced stealth features. Su-57 has not been sold to any country by Russia, so far and its combat capability is also not yet proven.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has made his displeasure known several times publicly with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), for not being able to supply the Tejas fighter planes as per schedule
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is claimed to be a state-of-the-art single-engine, single-seat stealth multirole fighter aircraft designed to perform a variety of missions, such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, and intelligence gathering.
F-35 has a top speed of Mach 1.6 (approximately 1,931 km/h), and a combat range of around 1,500 kilometres, along with advanced stealth capabilities making it less detectable to enemy radar systems. It is equipped with sophisticated avionics and sensor systems, the F-35 has enhanced situational awareness and combat effectiveness. The aircraft is known for its stealth capabilities.
Russia’s Sukhoi company’s Su-57 is a twin-engine, fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter aircraft designed for air superiority and strike missions. It is capable of engaging both aerial and ground targets.
The aircraft has advanced avionics, manoeuvrability, and stealth technology. It is designed for agility and speed to achieve air dominance.
However, when buying such a latest engineering marvel, cost also plays a very dominant role in the decision-making process. F-35 is one of the most expensive fighter jets in history, each unit of F-35 costs between $80 million and $110 million. Additionally, its lifetime operational cost is estimated to exceed $1.5 trillion over the program’s lifespan.
In contrast, the Russian Su-57 is significantly cheaper, with an estimated unit cost of $35 million to $40 million less than half the price of an American F-35.
Making things more clear, former Air Vice Marshal Sanjay Bhatnagar (Retd) opines that to make a comparison between the two fighters and assess whether they will be a good fit for the IAF’s requirements, several critical specifications must be matched in terms of their stealth capability, their avionics systems, their payload etc., and these would be crystal clear only when the IAF conducts a Comprehensive Analysis of the two crafts
Though the American fighter jet, has a larger global supply chain, more advanced avionics, and extensive NATO interoperability. Yet, for India, increasing the cost would be to establish new maintenance and overhaul platforms for both the aircrafts. Though India operates a lot of Russian-made planes, yet the same old platforms could not be used, as Su-57 is a much more advanced fighter plane than those being used by India currently.
To overcome the aircraft’s shortfall, our policy planners will have to think of innovative ideas. One school of thought is of the view that given the range of Indian fighter planes to safeguard the Indian airspace, India does not need a costly 5th generation fighter plane.
The Indian operational requirements could be fulfilled by much cheaper 4.5th generation fighter planes. HAL will be rolling out 4.5 gen fighters – LCA Mk-1A and Mk-2 – in large numbers over the next 10 years. So, to fill the shortfall India should not even go for acquiring any new 4.5 generation fighter plane, as it will not add to India acquiring any new technology.
Judiciously, this catch-22 situation could be overcome by taking a rather innovative and keeping with the times solution, that of increasing India’s stealth drone capability.
At present global powers are focused on developing stealth combat drones that can operate under the control of stealth or non-stealth motherships to penetrate contested airspace and deliver weapon loads, and India can definitely copy this thinking, saving money in the process.
Prioritising UCAVs over manned fighters will not only restore IAF’s combat strength but also future-proof its capabilities in an era of autonomous warfare. And will effectively add to IAF’s might at a lower cost, till the time HAL is able to deliver Tejas in large numbers
The US is using XQ-58A Valkyrie, besides, Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat. Many Europe nations are using Dassault’s nEUROn and BAE Systems’ Tempest & LANCA. China has its own, GJ-11 (Sharp Sword), a stealth UCAV. Russia possesses S-70 Okhotnik-B, in addition to Okhotnik-B, which has already been deployed in combat as part of Russia’s Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine. Further, DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is developing the Ghatak UCAV, a stealth, autonomous combat drone designed for deep-strike missions, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. It features a flying wing design for enhanced stealth capability.
Prioritising UCAVs over manned fighters will not only restore IAF’s combat strength but also future-proof its capabilities in an era of autonomous warfare. And will effectively add to IAF’s might at a lower cost, till the time HAL is able to deliver Tejas in large numbers.
-The writer is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on international and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily carry the views of Raksha Anirveda
