At the NDTV Defence Summit in New Delhi, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov told reporters that the choice between the U.S. F‑35 and the Russian Sukhoi Su‑57 rests solely with India. He said the Russian offer comes with a price advantage that India can leverage.
Alipov highlighted that six F‑35 Lightning II aircraft and more than 200 U.S. personnel have arrived in India for the first‑ever Exercise Tarang Shakti, signalling growing U.S. involvement. The U.S. kit is priced at about $80 million per aircraft, far higher than the Su‑57’s estimated $70 million.
Russia’s pitch is backed by an 80‑year partnership that began after independence, with longstanding purchases of MiG‑21s, MiG‑29s and the BrahMos joint missile programme. Alipov said, "Trust and respect are the very qualities that characterise our India‑Russia relationship."
Indian defence minister S. Jaishankar has repeatedly said that India’s procurement decisions are sovereign, while U.S. officials have warned that an expanding Indian air fleet could challenge Beijing.
The decision will crystallise when India unveils its procurement plans at the 2026 Bengaluru Air Show, where Russian partners will showcase the Su‑57 and Indian officials will decide whether to accept the U.S. offer.