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The news that Pakistan Air Force is preparing to purchase China's FC31 is spreading, and the most anxious one is the Indian Air Force. Several of India's main fighter jet R&D and procurement projects have all encountered problems, either the performance is not enough or it cannot be made. Russia took the opportunity to sell the Su-57 fighter jet to India again. Will India take the bait this time?

As China and the United States manufacture a large number of fourth-generation aircraft to equip their troops, the air forces of many countries have also launched their own fourth-generation aircraft projects. The US F-35 and China's FC-31 are still being promoted in the international market. The Indian Air Force certainly also hopes to enter the fourth-generationStealth FighterClub. However, the reality is cruel. India is a country that cannot even build a second-generation aircraft. After more than 40 years of hard work, the "Glorious" fighter jet has not actually achieved the combat function of the MiG-21 in the 1980s, and key subsystems still need to be imported. India's strategy is to walk on several legs at the same time. On the one hand, it continues to develop the Tejas 2 fighter to give this model basic combat effectiveness; on the other hand, it will bid internationally to purchase the so-called "multi-purpose fighter" to supplement the third-generation aircraft force; it also plans to develop an "advanced medium fighter" on its own, which is a fourth-generation aircraft. India hopes to use a three-pronged approach to stabilize and improve the combat effectiveness of the Indian Air Force on the one hand, and promote the transformation and upgrading of the Indian aviation industry on the other hand, laying the foundation for future fighter research and development.

The idea is very promising, but the reality is very bleak. India's three plans have now encountered problems. The engine of the Tejas 2 is to be imported from the United States, the General Electric F404, but India wants a technology transfer ratio of 80%, which the United States is unwilling to accept; the multi-purpose fighter has been repeatedly launched and discontinued because of price negotiations; as for the self-developed fourth-generation aircraft, it is really too ambitious given the current state of India's industrial base.

In this case, Russia is once again promoting IndiaSu-57, it seems that there is an opportunity. These days, Russia is holding the Military 2024 exhibition, which is an annual equipment display, military product trade, military academic forum and national defense education integration event, which is highly valued. At the meeting, Shugayev, director of the Russian Federal Military Technical Cooperation Agency, said that a foreign country has requested to buy the Su-57 fighter. Whether it is India, it cannot be confirmed.

Since the Su-57's maiden flight in 2010, Russia has repeatedly released news that foreign countries want to purchase it. The countries involved include China, India, Algeria, Vietnam, Turkey, etc. Of course, no orders have been completed so far. The reasons are very complicated, but the main reason is that the Su-57 does not meet the fourth-generation aircraft standards established by the F22. Especially in terms of stealth capability and radar electronic systems, the defects are still relatively large.

China successfully developedJ-20After that, they will naturally no longer be interested in the Su-57. Türkiye wants to introduce the S400Anti-aircraft missiles, and has already fallen out with the United States, so it is impossible for them to buy Russian-made main battle equipment. Vietnam and Algeria do not actually need fourth-generation aircraft. So, the only country that may purchase the Su-57 is India.

In fact, after India inspected the Su-57 in the early stage, it has basically given up on this model. In the past two years, the Modi government has moved closer to the United States and even wanted to import the F404 engine from the United States. Naturally, it no longer cares about the Su-57. In the Ukrainian war, the Su-57 did not play a decisive role. The cases of its participation in the war were all covered up, which made it difficult to arouse India's interest. But today, several fighter jet projects in India are in trouble. I am afraid that it is a last resort to consider the Su-57.

Why is it said that India is most likely to ask Russia to purchase the Su-57? Because the Indian Air Force has a problem with the supply of fighter jets, which is related to several of its current procurement projects. These projects sound very low-level. For example, India has repeatedly tried to purchase second-hand Mirage 2000 fighters. Recently, there was even news that it intends to seek upgrades for its existing MiG-29 fighters, mainly to increase the projection capability of a new generation of air-to-ground weapons beyond the zone of defense.

In fact, if India intends to continue to rely on foreign procurement, there are still many options.F-16, F/A-18, Rafale, Russia's MiG-35 and Su-30. As for the US F-35, India cannot buy it unless it completely surrenders to the United States and gives up strategic autonomy. However, none of these models can meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force, which is to be able to fight against the Chinese and Pakistani air forces, be cheap, and have sufficient production capacity and fast supply. Even the Su-57 cannot do these things, and the Indian Air Force will continue to waste time in entanglement.