Russia Offers Su-57 Local Production to Back India’s AMCA Programme
Russia has pledged support for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, offering local production of its advanced Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet. Ambassador Denis Alipov announced this significant defence cooperation move, signalling a major shift from buyer-seller ties to deep technology sharing.
Key Takeaways
- Russia offers local Su-57 production to support India’s AMCA programme
- Defence partnership evolves into joint development and full technology transfer
- Collaboration expanding to anti-drone systems and precision strike capabilities
Strengthening Strategic Partnership
Speaking at an event on October 16, 2025, Ambassador Alipov emphasized that the Russia-India relationship has transformed into one of “joint development, co-production, and full technology sharing.” This announcement comes amid speculation about India-Russia energy trade, though the ambassador maintained Russian energy remains “the most cost-effective option on the global market.”
Six Decades of Defence Cooperation
“For over six decades, Russia has been a trusted defence partner and a key contributor to India’s military modernisation,” Alipov stated. He noted that nearly 70% of India’s defence equipment is of Russian origin, with effectiveness demonstrated by Operation Sindoor.
The partnership has yielded landmark achievements including the joint production of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, now being upgraded to hypersonic version.
Next-Generation Technology Collaboration
Both nations are exploring collaborations in advanced technologies including:
- Anti-drone systems
- Advanced radar solutions
- Precision strike capabilities
Battlefield Experience Sharing
Alipov highlighted that the cooperation is “rooted in battlefield experience that Russia willingly shares with its Indian partners.” This includes joint tri-lateral exercises like Indra recently concluded in Rajasthan, and participation in multilateral naval exercises such as Milan and SCO anti-terrorist drills.
