F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets

US President Donald Trump has announced the sale of the F-35 fighter jets to India after his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Early last week at Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, both the U.S. F-35 and Russia’s SU-57 were showcased.

F-35 vs SU-57: How Do They Compare?

Both are fifth-generation stealth fighters, but they differ significantly in capability, cost, and adoption.

Key Comparisons:

Feature	F-35 (USA)	SU-57 (Russia)
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin	Sukhoi (UAC)
First Flight	2006	2010
Seating	Single-seat	Single-seat
Engines	Single-engine (Pratt & Whitney F135)	Twin-engine (Saturn AL-41F1)
Top Speed	Mach 1.6	Mach 1.8 (after burner)
Range	2,172 km	2,999 km
Max Altitude	50,000 ft	54,100 ft
Stealth Capabilities	Advanced radar-absorbing materials, low radar cross-section	Serrated exhaust nozzle for reduced radar/IR signature
Avionics & Sensors	Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS), Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS)	AI-assisted avionics, radar system spread across body
Weapons Payload	8,160 kg	7.4 tonnes
Operational Units	1,000+ globally	Only ~40 produced
Unit Cost	$80M – $115M	Significantly cheaper (exact cost unknown)
Stealth Reliability	Proven in combat (U.S. & NATO ops)	Some concerns over stealth effectiveness
User	17 countries (U.S., UK, Australia, etc.)	No confirmed foreign buyers
Advantages	Cutting-edge technology (stealth, sensors, networking) Strong U.S. support & ecosystem Combat-proven	Lower cost than F-35 Twin-engine (better for long-range operations) Potential for technology transfer local co-production with Russia
Challenges	High cost of procurement & maintenance U.S. restrictions on usage & technology transfer Single-engine, whereas IAF prefers twin-engine fighters	Limited production & reliability concerns Unproven in combat Stealth capabilities questioned

Which One Should India Choose?

The F-35 offers superior stealth, technology, and combat experience, but at a high cost and with U.S. restrictions.
SU-57 is cheaper and twin-engine, but it lacks operational maturity and global adoption.
India must balance immediate needs with its long-term goal of self-reliance in fighter jet development (AMCA program).

Why Does India Need a 5th-Gen Fighter?

India’s indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is under development but unlikely to enter service before 2036.
India’s adversaries (China & Pakistan) are rapidly acquiring stealth aircraft, creating a potential air superiority gap for the IAF.
- China is rapidly expanding its J-20 fleet (~300 by 2030). And developing the J-35A.
- Pakistan acquiring J-31 stealth fighters and collaborating with Turkey on the KAAN fighter.
A widening stealth gap in the IAF’s fleet could compromise India’s air defense capability in the 2030s.
India currently operates 4.5-generation fighters like the Rafale, but lacks a true fifth-generation jet. India risks being outmatched by stealth technology in future conflicts

Conclusion

The potential F-35 deal raises key questions about its impact on India’s self-reliance goals in defense.
Its high cost, integration challenges, and strategic dependencies need to be carefully evaluated before any decision.

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