Putin’s offer regarding Sukhoi-57, why is the timing of the Russian President’s offer important for India?

Russia has once again offered its most modern and 5th-generation fighter aircraft Sukhoi-57 to India. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that his country is not only ready to supply this dangerous stealth fighter jet to India, but he also wants to develop this aircraft further in collaboration with India.

Putin made this big statement while talking to news agencies during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Praising Sukhoi-57, he said that it is fifth generation technology and in my opinion, it is the best fighter aircraft in the world at present.

​’We had given the offer earlier also, but India said – make it yourself first’
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Remembering the old days, President Putin shared an interesting thing. He told that Russia had long ago proposed to India to work together on this technology (joint project). Putin said that there was a time when we had offered our Indian friends to work together on this technology. But then our Indian friends said that first you make it yourself, then we will see, maybe we can join later. So we prepared it completely on our own.

Putin made it clear that we are fully ready to hand over this aircraft to India and continue working together in this field. We have neither any hesitation nor any limitations regarding this. The same thing applies to our air defense systems also.

Why is this timing important for India?

This offer of Putin has come at a time when the Indian Air Force is in dire need of fifth-generation fighter jets to increase its strength.

1. ​At present, India does not have any operational stealth fighter jet.
2. On the other hand, neighboring country Pakistan has made full plans to purchase state-of-the-art J-35 (J-35AE) stealth fighter jet from China.
3. India is working on its own fifth generation aircraft AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft), but it may take at least 8 to 10 years (by the mid-2030s) for it to be fully prepared and join the army.

In such a situation, if India accepts this offer from Russia, it can very soon get the technology of the world’s most advanced aircraft. However, the eyes of the whole world are fixed on what stand India takes on this proposal of Russia this time.