Russia, India in talks on possible joint production of Su-57 fighter jet

India and Russia are holding technical discussions to explore the possibility of joint production of the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57E fighter jet in India, a senior Russian aerospace official said on Wednesday. There was no immediate response from the Indian side on the claim.

“Today, we are in the advanced stage of technical negotiations on this contract. Such contracts, given our experience, determine the trajectory of our cooperation for several decades to come,” United Aircraft Corporation chief executive Vadim Badekha told Russian reporters on the sidelines of the Wings India air show at Begumpet airport in Hyderabad.

Russia has put on static display at the air show its latest regional transport aircraft, the Ilyushin Il-114-300, and the Sukhoi SJ-100.

Badekha said the discussions also include “the licensed production of the Su-57 fighters in India at the facilities currently used to produce the Su-30 aircraft, and the maximum use of Indian industry and Indian systems in this aircraft.”

“Therefore, the contract requires extensive, in-depth study. It is currently in the advanced stage of technical consultations,” Badekha was quoted as saying by state-run news agency TASS.

Earlier, the chief executive of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev, said the company was offering New Delhi the supply of the latest fifth-generation Su-57E fighter jets, as well as the organisation of their production in India and assistance in developing India’s indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), according to state-run RIA Novosti.

Meanwhile, private news agency Interfax reported that United Aircraft Corporation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had signed an agreement for the production of Superjet-100 regional aircraft in India.

“The document formalises the agreement that HAL will assist UAC in the Superjet type certification and validation process in India. HAL will also be granted a licence to manufacture and sell the SJ-100, including components, parts, and spare parts necessary for the repair and maintenance of this aircraft,” Interfax reported.

UAC will, in turn, assist HAL in organising and re-tooling its production facilities for SJ-100 manufacturing through consulting, design services, and specialist engagement. Details on the roadmap, timeframe, project financial indicators, and workforce allocation are expected to be reflected in a master agreement.

In October, UAC and HAL had signed a memorandum of understanding for the production of Superjets in India.

UAC also expects to localise the production of “components, units, and systems for our aircraft” in India and supply them to Russia, Badekha said.

“This is a huge opportunity for us to expand our cooperation and reduce the cost of our aircraft, and, accordingly, to create a truly new level of cooperation in the aviation industry,” he said.

The import-independent Superjet-100 variant being offered to India will feature all-Russian components, including PD-8 engines, and will not be affected by Western sanctions. Until 2022, Russia mass-produced Superjets developed through international cooperation, but the programme was halted following Western sanctions.

(With inputs from agencies)