Latest news with #Su-57
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Why This 5th-Gen Aircraft Could Be a Game Changer
Now Playing Episode 0 General Russia Offers Su-57 Fighter Jet to India | Why This 5th-Gen Aircraft Could Be a Game Changer Episode 0 Russia has offered India the formidable Su-57E fifth-generation stealth fighter, which could profoundly redefine South Asia's air combat dynamics and secure India's strategic future. With AI-assisted avionics, unparalleled supermaneuverability, and next-gen hypersonic missiles, the Su-57E promises unmatched air superiority against growing regional threats. Meanwhile, China is bolstering Pakistan with its advanced J-35A stealth jets, raising critical concerns over India's defense strategy and its aerial dominance. With India's own AMCA program facing delays, does the Su-57 deal now appear to be the most pragmatic and potent solution for its immediate defense needs? Watch the full breakdown of this high-stakes defense decision and its far-reaching implications for global security
NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
NDTV Explains: Everything About India's New 5th-Generation Stealth Fighter
The runway has been cleared - for a homemade fifth-generation stealth fighter that can vault India into an elite club, one of a few nations that can design and build next-gen combat aircraft. In fact, that list is uber-exclusive; as of May 2025, only three other nations have fifth-gen fighters. The United States has the F-22 and F-35, China the J-20, and Russia the Su-57. Advertisement - Scroll to continue And on Tuesday India took the first step to join that club. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the 'execution model' for the multirole Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, or AMCA, to be developed by the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Agency, in cooperation with global industry partners, for the Air Force and Navy. The initial cost is expected to be over Rs 15,000 crore and delivery by 2035. So What Is The AMCA? India's first fifth-gen fighter will be a single-seat twin-engine jet with advanced stealth coatings and internal weapons bays like those on US and Russian planes - the F-22, F-35, and Su-57. It is expected to have an operational ceiling of 55,000 feet and carry 1,500kg in weapons in internal bays, with 5,500kg more externally. The AMCA will likely carry a further 6,500kg in fuel. Reports indicate there will be two versions; the second will, India hopes, also have an indigenously developed engine, possibly more powerful than the US-made GE F414 in the first. India's 5th-gen fighter jet project is expected to cost Rs 15,000 crore. Photo: Overall, this will be a supermanoeuvrable and stealthy multirole fighter jet. What does that mean? Well, supermanoeuvrable is the capacity of fighter jets to execute tactical movements. These refer to changes in direction and angle-of-attack not possible with traditional aerodynamic techniques, i.e., ailerons, elevators, flaps, air brakes, rudders, etc. Stealth is perhaps self-explanatory. It is basically the ability of the plane (or ship, submarine, or missile) relatively undetectable to radar or sonar or other detection methods. And 'multirole' refers to the aircraft's ability to execute a variety of tactical mission parameters, including air superiority and ground strikes, and SEAD, or suppression of air defences. But What Is A 5th-Gen Fighter? There is no one definition, except to say it incorporates major tech developed in the first part of the 21st century and are, without exception, the most advanced fighter jets in operation. Key, though, is the use of superior battlefield software that gives the pilot detailed information about the battle space and enemy combatants, as well as anything to might give them an edge. Specifically, they have innovative avionics that can network with 'friendlies' for enhanced situational awareness and C3, or 'control, command, and communications' capabilities. Other examples of such technologies include low-probability-of-intercept radar, which can simultaneously mask the aircraft's position while tracking or locking on to enemy targets. And there's more. A fifth-gen fighter's need to be supermanoeuvrable also means it has specially designed airframes, which are superlight and superstrong since they need to withstand tremendous G-force during battle movements and also remain intact during sustained supersonic flight. India's AMCA ticks all of these boxes. Reports say it will also have an 'electronic pilot' powered by AI for real-time decision-making, and an Integrated Vehicle Health Management system for 'predictive maintenance'. So What Are Other 5th-Gen Fighters? The US' F-22 and F-35, Russia's Su-57, and China's J-20. Of these, the F-22, codenamed 'Raptor', was once seen as the 'ultimate killing machine'. Conceived as the Cold War was winding down, it combines sustainable high speed, supermanoeuvrability and low-observable stealth, and is a fearsome rival to face. Interestingly, the F-22 programme was almost cancelled. The US has two 5th-gen stealth fighters - this is the F-22 'Raptor' (File). The Barack Obama administration was reportedly on the verge of scrapping the initiative in 2008 since it was assumed that high-end, state-on-state conflicts were a thing of the past. But with Russia developing advanced weaponry, including the S-400 missile defence system, and China modernising its forces too, the F-22 was dusted off and brought back to life. Russia is pitching its Sukhoi Su-57 5th-gen stealth fighter jet to India (File) And now the US also has the F-35, which is the most advanced fighter jet today. It is also the most expensive; a recent report by the US government said it would take at least $1.7 trillion to purchase, operate and sustain the aircraft in its 66-year life cycle. Perhaps because of that the US has offered the F-35 to India; in February, Donald Trump told reporters, "We're paving the way to ultimately provide India with F-35 stealth fighters..." The Su-57 and J-20 are considered Russia and China's answers to these two jets. Like the F-35, the Su-57 has also been offered to India. The number of operational J-20 fighter jets with the Chinese Air Force is unclear (File) There are whispers China has already developed a sixth-generation aircraft; in April NDTV reported Beijing seems to be testing two possible stealth fighters - the tailless, three-engine J-36 seen over Chengdu in December last year, and the J-50 with V-shaped wings and twin engines. Aviation combat analysts believe China fast-tracking its sixth-gen fighter is in response to the US awarding Boeing a contract to build the F-47, its next-gen air superiority fighter. Behind India's AMCA Bet The AMCA greenlight underlines India's push to modernise its military, including weapons and equipment upgrades, after recent military tension with nuclear-armed Pakistan and China. As part of those upgrades India, in April signed a Rs 63,000 crore deal to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter jets - i.e., the marine variants - from France's Dassault Aviation. To be delivered by 2031, these will replace aging Russian MiG29Ks. The Air Force already operates 36 Rafale-C fighters. In addition, over the past decade, India has also launched an indigenously developed and built aircraft carrier, as well as warships and submarines, and tested long-range hypersonic missiles. But Rajnath Singh has also promised at least $100 billion in fresh domestic military hardware contracts by 2033 to spur made-in India arms production, and bolster revenue from exports. NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat. Share
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
HAL AMCA: What is India's fifth-generation fighter jet, and how does it compare with F-35, Su-57, J-20?
AMCA's capabilities Live Events What Makes AMCA a Fifth-Generation Jet? Stealth Technology : Internal weapons bay and low radar cross-section help reduce detectability. : Internal weapons bay and low radar cross-section help reduce detectability. AI-Enabled Systems : An Electronic Pilot uses Artificial Intelligence for real-time decision-making support. : An Electronic Pilot uses Artificial Intelligence for real-time decision-making support. Sensor Fusion : The cockpit integrates inputs from multiple onboard sensors for unified situational awareness. : The cockpit integrates inputs from multiple onboard sensors for unified situational awareness. Netcentric Warfare : Secure and real-time data links allow the AMCA to operate seamlessly with other manned and unmanned platforms. : Secure and real-time data links allow the AMCA to operate seamlessly with other manned and unmanned platforms. Supercruise Capability : Enables sustained supersonic speeds without afterburners, reducing fuel usage and thermal visibility. : Enables sustained supersonic speeds without afterburners, reducing fuel usage and thermal visibility. Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM): Monitors structural and system health to enable predictive maintenance and reduce downtime. A strategic leap amid regional tensions How does AMCA compare to F-35, Su-57 and J-20? F-35 Lightning II (USA): Developed by Lockheed Martin, this jet is considered the most widely deployed fifth-gen fighter. It features advanced stealth, an internal fuel capacity of 18,498 pounds, and a payload of 18,000 pounds. It is powered by a 43,000 lb thrust engine and features the Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) for secure battlefield communication. Sukhoi Su-57 (Russia): Russia's stealth jet can reach Mach 1.8 and carry up to 7.4 tonnes of munitions. With a combat range of 1,864 miles and operating altitude of over 54,000 feet, the Su-57 is pitched as a multi-role platform with Russia looking to export it to India and the UAE. Chengdu J-20 (China): China's stealth fighter is already in service and is often claimed to rival US platforms. It is equipped with long-range missiles and radar-evading technologies. A decade ahead: What's next for AMCA? Why AMCA matters for India's Defence future (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India has cleared its ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft ( AMCA ) programme, a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet project that aims to elevate the Indian Air Force (IAF) into the elite club of next-gen aerial combat nations. The decision was taken by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, marking a major leap in India's indigenous defence AMCA project—led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)—is designed to produce medium-weight, deep-penetration, stealth aircraft that will operate alongside the existing Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. Together, they will form the core of India's aerial strike power in the coming decades.'In a significant push towards enhancing India's indigenous defence capabilities and fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model,' the Ministry of Defence AMCA is more than just a jet. It's India's answer to stealth-heavy, fifth-generation warfare. The twin-engine, 25-tonne aircraft will feature cutting-edge stealth, AI-assisted electronic piloting, and internal weapons bays designed for long-range air-to-air missiles and precision-guided also comes with Netcentric Warfare Systems, advanced avionics, and Integrated Vehicle Health Management for predictive maintenance. These features enable seamless coordination with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in real-time combat India Today report confirms the aircraft's internal fuel tank will hold up to 6.5 tonnes, giving it extended operational range. The Indian Express reports the internal weapons bay will carry a payload of up to 1,500 AMCA's projected cost currently stands at ₹15,000 crore, with full-scale engineering development for five prototypes approved in March AMCA is a 25-tonne twin-engine stealth multi-role fighter, featuring cutting-edge stealth design, sensor fusion, and advanced avionics. It is engineered for both deep penetration strike missions and air dominance includes:The jet can carry up to four long-range air-to-air missiles and several precision-guided munitions internally, with a total payload of 1,500 timing of the announcement is no coincidence. It comes as China rapidly advances its military technology and deepens its defence relationship with Pakistan. According to a recent US intelligence report, 'Pakistan primarily is a recipient of China's economic and military largesse, and Pakistani forces conduct multiple combined military exercises every year with China's PLA, including a new air exercise completed in November 2024.'The same report noted that over 80% of Pakistan's arms imports come from China, with 'foreign materials and technology supporting Pakistan's WMD programmes very likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China.' These materials are sometimes transshipped through third countries like Hong Kong and the compounding the situation are recent terrorist attacks targeting Chinese workers in Pakistan. Seven Chinese nationals were killed in 2024, straining relations between the two this backdrop, India's push for self-reliance in aerospace and its investment in fifth-generation capabilities mark a decisive AMCA will join an elite list of fifth-generation fighter jets already in operation. These include:Compared to these, AMCA's design focuses on stealth, AI integration, and seamless UAV coordination. Though India is late to the fifth-generation game, its aircraft is expected to match, if not exceed, certain capabilities of its rivals through indigenous innovation and selective foreign Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has committed to delivering the first operational AMCA by 2035.'This journey began only in 2024, when the Cabinet Committee on Security sanctioned the project. It will take ten years, and we have committed to delivering the platform by 2035,' DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat had said develop the jet's complex engine, India is expected to partner with a foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM), ensuring the platform meets both domestic and export the IAF is also moving ahead with its Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) procurement programme. A Request for Information (RFI) was issued in April 2019 for 114 fighter aircraft, at an estimated cost of USD 18 billion—making it one of the largest military acquisitions in recent India, the AMCA is not just about matching China or Pakistan. It's about successful development of the Tejas LCA has already laid the groundwork. Now, with the AMCA, India joins the elite club of nations with fifth-generation fighter capabilities—alongside the US, Russia, and other indigenous programmes such as VSHORAD, MPATGM and LCA Mk II, the AMCA signals a transformative decade ahead for India's defence industry. With the global strategic landscape rapidly shifting, the ability to control the skies is no longer optional—it's existential.
India.com
6 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Indias AMCA: Can Private Players Deliver A True Swadeshi 5th-Gen Stealth Fighter? Time For India To Take Kaveri Challenge
India's AMCA Project: India, one of the world's largest arms importers, has been a target of defence firms from across the world, be it the United States, France and Russia. While the US wants to sell its F-35 jet to India, Russia wants it to be Su-57. India has already inked deals with France for the Rafale fighter jets. As China has expedited the supply of 5th-generation jets to Pakistan at discounted prices, India has decided to walk the path it left in the lurch years ago. In a significant push towards enhancing India's indigenous defence capabilities and fostering a robust domestic aerospace industrial ecosystem, India approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model, its bid to develop fifth-generation fighter jets indigenously. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is set to execute the programme through Industry partnership. "The Execution Model approach provides equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis. They can bid either independently or as a joint venture or as consortia. The entity/bidder should be an Indian company compliant with the laws and regulations of the country," said the Defence Ministry. Why Indigenous Stealth? The indigenous quest is also important because some recent reports claimed that French firm Rafale is not willing to share critical tech information - Source Code - with India necessary for the integration of the air defence systems and other weapons with the Rafale aircraft. This will pose a significant challenge for the Indian Armed Forces in times of conflict. Thus, a fully homegrown aircraft will eliminate this significant challenge. Notably, India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A program has faced significant challenges due to a delay in delivery of the F404-IN20 engines by General Electric (GE) Aerospace, an American firm. The delay in supply of the engine led to delayed delivery of the 83 LCA-Mk1A jets to the Indian Air Force. While the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) makes the Tejas, it's dependent on the GE for the engine, as India doesn't make one. With neighbouring China already flying its J-20 and working on the next-gen J-31, and Pakistan exploring FC-31 acquisition, India needs AMCA sooner rather than later. Any significant delay could leave a capability gap in the 2030s when older aircraft like Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and Jaguars retire. The Engine Challenge: Achilles' Heel India does not yet have a proven indigenous engine powerful enough for fifth-gen fighter jets. Developing a reliable, high-thrust turbofan engine comparable with global standards like the F119 in the F-22 or AL-41F1 in the Su-57 involves cutting-edge materials, thermal management, and precision manufacturing. India may need to partner with foreign engine makers like Safran (France) or Rolls-Royce (UK), which could compromise full self-reliance initially to get the job done in India. India's Kaveri Quest A campaign has been gaining momentum on social media over the past 48 hours regarding the Kaveri engine. The question is—why has this campaign become necessary? The Kaveri engine has the potential to make India self-reliant in the field of defense aviation. The Kaveri project was launched in 1982 with the goal of developing an indigenous fighter jet engine for India. The project was a collaboration between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). However, due to a lack of advanced technology and international sanctions that restricted the supply of essential components, the project has yet to be completed. Many believe that if the Kaveri engine project receives renewed funding and support, it could still succeed. Developing a homegrown jet engine would not only accelerate the upgrade of aircraft like the Tejas but also pave the way for India to independently design and produce fifth-generation fighter jets. In essence, a successful Kaveri engine would eliminate India's dependence on countries like the United States, Russia, or France for combat aircraft engines. #DNAWithRahulSinha | 'कावेरी इंजन' क्या, देश के लिए जरूरी क्यों? वो इंजन जो भारत को सुपरपावर बना देगा..#DNA #KaveriEngine | @RahulSinhaTV — Zee News (@ZeeNews) May 28, 2025 India's Bid For Elite Club Entry Still, optimism is airborne. With the ADA at the helm and a reinvigorated private sector ready to engage, the AMCA programme could very well mark India's breakout moment. If successful, the fighter will not only bolster the Indian Air Force's combat capabilities but also place India in an elite club of nations capable of building fifth-generation stealth jets—no small feat for a country where red tape has often proved more durable than titanium.
India Gazette
22-04-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
US and India finalize terms for trade talks
The Trump administration "seeks to rebalance global trade" with "friends like India," according to the American vice president US Vice President J.D. Vance has announced that the US and India have agreed on terms for bilateral trade negotiations, calling it a roadmap to a final deal. Vance is currently in India, where he has held meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key officials. Washington and New Delhi aim to substantially increase bilateral trade, with a goal of exceeding $500 billion by the end of the decade. The target was announced by President Donald Trump and Modi during the latter's visit to the US in February. "I believe this is a vital step toward realizing President [Donald] Trump's and Prime Minister Modi's vision, because it sets a road map toward a final deal between our nations," Vance said on Tuesday in the city of Jaipur. The US also wants a deeper defense partnership with the South Asian power, the vice president stated, including co-production of munitions and equipment such as javelins and striker combat vehicles. "We want to work together more. And we want your nation to buy more of our military equipment, which, of course, we believe is the best in class. American fifth generation F-35s, for example, would give the Indian Air Force the ability to defend your airspace," Vance said. When Modi came to the White House earlier this year, Trump noted that the US would like to increase weapons sales to India, and would eventually offer it its F-35 fighter jets. He made the statement days after the F-35 faced off against Russia's Su-57 fighter at India's largest air show, Aero India, in Bangalore. Moscow presented the Su-57 in India for the first time, sparking intense interest from experts and the general public, according to Indian media reports. Defense analysts say that the Su-57 boasts a number of advantages, including cost and opportunities for technology transfer for the Indian Air Force, which has relied on Russian systems for decades. READ MORE: Trump offers F-35 fighter jets to India Vance also said the US wants to "help India explore its own considerable natural resources," including offshore natural gas and critical mineral supplies. During Modi's February US visit, Trump suggested that an easy way to balance trade would be to increase US exports of oil and gas to India - something Washington sees as a means of reducing New Delhi's reliance on Russian oil, as well as gas imports from the Middle East.
