India’s stealth fighter jet conundrum has become even more complex. The indigenous stealth fighter jet program, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is still almost a decade away. Meanwhile, China has inducted two fifth-generation aircraft into service and is testing two sixth-generation fighter jets, widening the capability gap with India.
Since a full-scale war with China is unlikely in the near future, New Delhi may have overlooked this widening capability gap with Beijing. However, that changed the moment when Pakistan announced it was acquiring China’s latest fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the J-35A.
According to initial information, which was later retracted, Pakistan was planning to acquire 40 J-35A stealth fighter jets from China and induct them into the PAF by 2026-27.
India and Pakistan had already fought two short aerial battles in the last six years, and the possibility of more such skirmishes in the future can not be ruled out.
Thus, it became apparent that India can not wait for AMCA for the next 10 years. New Delhi needs a bridge-gap solution to maintain aerial parity with Pakistan and China, its two main adversaries.
Furthermore, India needs to move swiftly, as defense deals in India often move at a snail’s pace, sometimes languishing for years or even decades. A case in point is India’s MRFA (Medium Role Fighter Aircraft) deal. First envisioned in 2001, the agreement has yet to be signed as of 2025.
Furthermore, the only two viable fifth-generation options for India, the F-35 and the Su-57, are both struggling with production issues, and New Delhi may face significant delays, even if the jets are ordered today.
While the Su-57 is struggling with production due to the Ukraine War and crippling Western sanctions, the F-35 is facing a massive backlog of orders.
Between these two, there is no easy choice. However, what is certain is that India could very soon finalize a deal for a fifth-generation fighter jet.
India To Order 2-3 Squadrons Of Stealth Fighters
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is seeking to acquire two to three squadrons of fifth-generation fighter jets from foreign sources to enhance its combat capabilities until the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project becomes operational, according to India’s news agency ANI.
A fighter squadron typically consists of 18 to 20 jets.
This means that India can order 40 to 60 fifth-generation fighter jets.
The IAF recently made a detailed presentation to the government outlining its future requirements for maintaining an edge over adversaries, defense sources told ANI.
An empowered committee led by Defence Secretary RK Singh recommended the induction of fifth-generation fighter jets to enhance the force’s deterrence and preparedness, especially along the northern and western borders.
However, the government has not yet made a decision on the issue of fifth-generation fighter jets, but discussions are ongoing in this regard, ANI reported.
While security analysts have intensively debated the F-35 versus the Su-57 issue, the debate has recently tilted considerably in favor of the Su-57 due to several factors.
Why Security Analysts Are Giving An Edge To Su-57
Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expected visit to India in the last quarter of 2025, many analysts have assumed that India will finalize a deal for the Su-57 during this trip.
Even though the Su-57 suffers from production woes and has a considerably larger Radar Cross Section (RCS) than the F-35, a host of Russian offers such as complete Transfer of Technology (ToT), domestic production in HAL’s existing facilities for Su-30 MKI, and cooperation in developing India’s AMCA program, along with Su-57’s competitive price, has made it an unresistable offer.
However, it will be a mistake to write off the F-35 so soon.
Currently, there are several issues running against the F-35.
Ever since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January this year, India-US relations have been on a downward spiral.
There has been a persistent issue of trade sanctions. However, the real irritant has been Trump’s flip-flops on the policy towards Pakistan. Trump hosted Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen Asim Munir in the White House, and he seems to be a willing participant in Islamabad’s propaganda wars against India.
Another issue is that the Indian Air Force (IAF) currently has no US fighter jets in its arsenal (it has Russian, French, and joint French-UK fighter jets). The IAF is also inducting indigenously developed LCA Tejas fighter jets. Integrating one more fighter (from the US) will present a host of logistics issues for the IAF.
Despite these handicaps, the F-35 has many strengths, and it could be a significant capability boost for the IAF.
Firstly, on the diplomatic front, India could use the F-35 deal to mend ties with the Trump administration. Many countries, from Japan to the oil-rich Middle Eastern kingdoms, have used defense deals with the US to curry favor with Trump.
Furthermore, if India purchases Su-57, it runs the danger of Western sanctions. The EU has already begun sanctioning Indian companies and nationals for aiding Russian oil exports, underscoring Europe’s increasingly firm stance on Indian trade with Russia.
For New Delhi, moving ahead with the Su-57 deal at this juncture could be a risky move, fraught with the danger of further alienating the Western bloc.
Su-57 vs F-35
On the technical front, the F-35 has many strengths.
Superior Stealth Characteristics: This point can’t be stressed enough.
The F-35 is widely regarded as having unmatched stealth characteristics, which are critical for modern air combat, where undetected penetration of contested airspace is a game-changer.
Its radar cross-section (RCS) is approximately 0.0015 square meters, making it exceptionally difficult to detect. In contrast, the Su-57’s RCS is estimated at 0.1 to 0.5 square meters, just slightly better than a 4.5-generation fighter jet.
Talking about the F-35’s superior stealth, defense journalist Nisha P Shekhar wrote, “The F-35 is like a ninja, nearly impossible to detect on radar. Its radar cross-section is just 0.0015 square meters — as tiny as a pigeon flying in the sky. The Su-57, while stealthy from the front, has detectable signatures from the sides and rear.”
Former IAF pilot and defense analyst, Vijainder K Thakur writes: “The F-35 features all-aspect stealth, meaning ground-based radars, whether positioned in front, behind, or on the sides, struggle to detect it in time for effective engagement by air defense systems.
“In contrast, the Su-57 has strong front-aspect stealth but significantly lower all-aspect stealth compared to the F-35. When flying head-on, as it would when intercepting an intruding fighter, the Su-57 can approach an F-35 undetected and engage it at close range.”
“However, if the Su-57 were to penetrate contested airspace, it would not be detected at long distances, but it would become visible at shorter ranges, giving enemy radars and air defense systems enough time to engage it.”
Advanced Sensor Fusion and Network-Centric Warfare: The F-35’s advanced avionics, including its 360-degree Distributed Aperture System and sensor fusion capabilities, enable it to act as a battlefield command hub, integrating data from multiple sources for superior situational awareness.
“The F-35 Lightning II represents the most advanced fifth-generation stealth fighter available on the global market. It is designed with stealth, sensor fusion, and advanced avionics at its core, giving it a significant edge in modern air warfare. Its ability to operate in contested airspace without being detected by radar is a major advantage against technologically advanced adversaries like China,” said the Indian Army’s Gen MM Naravane (Retd).
Designed for Offensive Roles: The F-35 is designed for offensive roles, whereas the Su-57 is more of a defensive platform. The F-35, due to its unmatched stealth, can penetrate contested airspace and launch punitive airstrikes.
The Su-57, with its limited stealth, might struggle in such operations. For instance, in the Operation Midnight Hammer, the F-35s were able to penetrate Iranian airspace and sweep and destroy enemy air defense systems. The Su-57 might not be very useful for such operations.
However, due to its frontal stealth, it excels in defensive roles.
According to Thakur: “The Su-57, with its limited stealth, is optimized for air defense and short-range airstrikes from within Russian airspace, aimed at halting enemy ground offensives along its borders.”
“On the other hand, the U.S. and its Western allies have prioritized long-range airstrikes through contested airspace over air defense. The F-35 is designed to penetrate contested airspace and destroy enemy air defense systems.”
“In simple terms, the F-35 is designed to breach Russia’s multi-layered air defense network, while the Su-57 is designed to intercept F-35s attempting to penetrate Russian airspace and block enemy advances along the Russian border,” Thakur said.
Given India’s current operational requirements, which prioritize penetrating Pakistani airspace to launch punitive airstrikes on terror camps, the F-35 is more relevant to the IAF.
Furthermore, China has advanced air defense systems, such as the S-400. If hostilities break out between India and China, the F-35 will be able to penetrate Chinese airspace and conduct bombing missions.
If Pakistan continues its terror activities, and the IAF needs to conduct another surgical strike, there is none better than the F-35. For an invading Chinese J-20, the Russian Su-57 would be the perfect aircraft to thwart the PLAAF.
An IAF expert, who did not wish to be quoted, said: F-35s could be a game changer not only for the Indian Air Force but also for New Delhi, which has been struggling to mend its ties with Donald Trump. India, I believe, is seriously mulling acquiring two squadrons of F-35 fighters, similar to the purchase of 36 Rafales from France.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
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