New Delhi: India’s push to strengthen its aerial combat capabilities has entered a new phase, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) exploring the option of acquiring a limited number of fifth-generation stealth fighter jets through direct purchase from foreign partners. The proposed acquisition is intended to serve as a temporary capability boost while the country continues developing its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Defence planners believe that bringing in a small fleet of advanced stealth aircraft could help the Air Force address near-term operational challenges and adapt to the rapidly evolving air combat environment in Asia. The move comes as neighbouring countries, particularly China, continue expanding their own fifth-generation fighter fleets, increasing pressure on India to maintain technological parity in the skies.
Limited Import as Strategic Stopgap
The IAF is reportedly considering the direct import of approximately 40 to 60 fifth-generation fighter jets. This fleet would serve as a temporary bridge until the indigenous AMCA program becomes operational.
Air Force planners believe that such a limited acquisition could provide India with critical stealth capabilities while domestic development continues. The aircraft would also help Indian pilots gain experience with next-generation combat platforms and stealth-era tactics, which are expected to dominate future air warfare.
At present, the Indian Air Force’s fighter fleet largely consists of fourth-generation and upgraded fourth-generation aircraft. Introducing a small number of fifth-generation jets would significantly enhance the service’s operational capabilities in contested environments.
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Preference for Direct Purchase Over Local Production
Despite offers from international partners to establish manufacturing lines in India, the IAF currently prefers a direct purchase approach.
Countries such as Russia have proposed extensive technology transfers, including local production of stealth aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-57. However, senior defence officials suggest that establishing domestic assembly facilities for a relatively small fleet may not be practical.
Setting up a local production ecosystem for stealth aircraft requires massive infrastructure investments, including:
• Specialized manufacturing tools
• Stealth coating facilities
• Advanced testing and certification frameworks
• Highly specialized supply chains
These facilities typically require long-term production commitments involving hundreds of aircraft to become economically viable. For a fleet of only 40–60 jets, the cost of establishing such infrastructure could far exceed the benefits.
As a result, the IAF is leaning toward direct import to save both time and financial resources.
Bridging the Gap Until AMCA
The proposed stealth fighter purchase is primarily intended to fill the operational gap until the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft becomes available.
The AMCA is India’s ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter program designed to provide the country with an indigenous platform capable of competing with global stealth aircraft.
According to current projections, the AMCA program has achieved several important milestones. In late 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Security streamlined the production model, allowing greater participation from private-sector companies.
The development timeline currently includes:
• First prototype rollout expected in 2028
• Maiden flight targeted for 2029
• Production phase expected in the early 2030s
If these timelines are maintained, the imported stealth fighters would only serve as India’s primary fifth-generation platform for a limited period before the AMCA begins entering service.
The Timeline Challenge
Timing is one of the most significant factors shaping the IAF’s strategy.
Even if a contract for foreign stealth fighters were signed immediately, deliveries and operational integration would likely begin only in the early 2030s.
Defence analysts estimate that by the time the final aircraft from such a deal are delivered, the AMCA program could already be moving into its production phase.
This creates a relatively narrow operational window of approximately six to seven years during which the imported jets would play a central role.
Investing heavily in domestic production of a foreign aircraft for such a limited timeframe could divert funding, manpower, and industrial focus away from the AMCA project.
The IAF therefore appears keen to avoid a situation where the interim solution undermines India’s long-term strategic aviation goals.
Balancing Capability and Cost
From the Air Force’s perspective, the potential purchase is best understood as a “capability hedge.”
The goal is to ensure that India maintains a technological edge in aerial combat while indigenous programs move from development to operational deployment.
Maintaining a fifth-generation fleet requires highly specialized materials, advanced avionics support, and unique maintenance ecosystems. Establishing such capabilities domestically for a small fleet would involve enormous investment.
Instead, the IAF believes its resources are better allocated toward ensuring the success of the AMCA program, which is expected to form the backbone of India’s air combat capability in the coming decades.
By keeping the interim acquisition limited, the Air Force hopes to preserve financial and industrial capacity for the long-term indigenous program.
Evaluating the Su-57M1E
Recent reports suggest that India is evaluating the Russian Su-57M1E stealth fighter as a potential candidate for the interim requirement.
The Su-57M1E is described as an upgraded export version of Russia’s fifth-generation fighter, sometimes referred to as the “final form” of the platform.
The upgraded aircraft reportedly features:
• Improved stealth nozzles
• Enhanced radar cross-section management
• Advanced avionics
• New engines capable of supercruise
Interest in the aircraft has grown amid increasing regional competition in stealth aviation.
China has already deployed its J-20 stealth fighter in significant numbers and has also unveiled the J-35A, another fifth-generation aircraft expected to expand its stealth fleet further.
Changing Strategic Environment in Asia
The rapid expansion of stealth aircraft fleets in the Indo-Pacific region has increased pressure on India to accelerate its own capabilities.
China’s deployment of the J-20 has already shifted the balance of air power in certain areas, while the introduction of additional stealth platforms like the J-35A could further strengthen its aerial dominance.
For the IAF, acquiring a limited number of fifth-generation fighters could provide a crucial technological bridge during a period of significant transformation in air warfare.
Such an acquisition would also help Indian pilots develop tactics, training procedures, and operational doctrines suited for stealth-era combat environments.
Focus on Indigenous Future
Despite the interest in foreign stealth aircraft, the Indian Air Force remains committed to the long-term goal of developing and deploying the AMCA.
The project is expected to represent a major step forward for India’s aerospace industry, integrating advanced stealth design, next-generation avionics, and indigenous technologies.
Government reforms aimed at increasing private-sector participation are also expected to accelerate development and strengthen India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
If successful, the AMCA will serve as the cornerstone of India’s future air power and significantly reduce dependence on foreign fighter aircraft.
