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Last few days, there are lots of reports like the attached one. The essence of the story is, 'Russia offering Su-57E to India, including Source Codes'.
Now for a reality check...
1.) What kind of 'source codes' would the Russians like to share with India?
Mind that the organisation of the UAK/OAK (Putin-controlled Russian aviation industry conglomerate, created per decree back in 2006) is such that foreign customers are strictly kept out of the R&D-loop. Per law. Means: whatever the Russians (more specifically: represenatives of the Rosoboronexport) might be 'promising', fact is that the reality is fundamentaly different.
(...and, do I need to remind about all of their 'promises' from the 1990s, and how much time and money have these cost India?)
2.) As far as I know, since around 1,5 years, the Russians are re-writing the sensor-integration software for Su-57 - and that for the third time in succession. Read: the first and the second attempt to write such software have both failed. Every such effort took the Russian IT-branch about five years, and every time it failed. And that in peace-time. But, now they should manage that - where it's no priority, and that amid an ongoing war?
Good luck...
3.) Not only the R&D of the rear section of the Su-57's fuselage, but also the R&D of the engines, production methods, skin, and paint are all incomplete - and unlikely to ever become complete. In the words of responsible Russian directors, 'we'be forgotten how to make engines': the know-how (including all the technical documentation) is gone. ...and, by best will: I doubt they'll ever learn that about 'skins of stealth jets'...
4.) Russia has no 'stealth-fighter-suitable' weapons whatsover. Sure, there are few paper designs. Foremost, the Kh-69 was presented in mock up form; some are claiming that it was deployed against Ukraine, too. However, currently, I know of no evidence for its series production.
...nor, actually, for any kind of a _Russian_-designed air-to-ground guided weapon entering series production, except for the Izdeliye-305, a.k.a. LMUR.
5.) Su-57 is, currently, 'incompatible' with the Brahmos missile. Indeed, unless the (smaller, lighter) Brahmos NG becomes available, nothing of this is possible (theoretically, Brahmos NG is downsized to dimensions enabling its installation under the wings, though at the cost of runing the stealthiness). On the contrary, 'just hanging a Brahmos' in the tunnel between the engine nacelles of the Su-57 is not going to work: it would not only block the weapons bays there, but is simply not envisaged by the Su-57's internal structure.
6.) Similarly, 'fitting' something Indian-made like Astra Mk. I, Mk.II or Mk.III/Gandiva LRAAM into the Su-57 sounds 'easy', but is not. Actually, it's near sure to require significant re-design of the internal structure of the jet... and that's not to talk about 'avionics'...
...and when you start re-designing internal structure and avionics... then don't forget to re-design the internal power-supply, too... otherwise you end like Russian Su-30s, which can't power-up their radars to their full power because they're lacking the necessary power-supply ('electricity')...
7.) Regardless if it's about their fighter jets, AWACS aircraft, or guided weapons, the Russians have next to no own, and are so badly short on foreign (principally US-made) high-tech they need for their high-tech weaponry (see installation of US-made chips and motherboards into their Kh-101 cruise missiles as a good example), last year in February they've had to cancell the A-100 AWACS project. Because they couldn't obtain the necessary electronics from abroad.
But, they should manage that in the case of the Su-57? What a surprise there's just 'slow production' (ho-hum) of its '0-series'...
Actually, this means that if India wants to get involved in the Su-57, it's first got to find a way to either bypass Western sanctions on export of US-made high-tech, and its installation into the Su-57. Hands up whoever is sure this would not risk the US wrath over such issues like, just for example, the supply of engines for the LCA/Tejas...
8.) Above all, and as the IAF concluded already years ago, the Russians are insistent on developing the Su-57 as 'air superiority fighter', while the IAF - actually - needs a '(two-seat) striker'.
***
Either way: while 'logical' and 'plausible', especially to Indian fans of Russian... erm... 'high tech'... that's neither 'easy', even less so 'cheap'. Especially with such a project being run in Russia, 'under the cloak of the OAK'... oh dear... hand on heart: one could never be sure what (of Indian) money is spent for what, and what disappearing in who-knows-what pockets.
It's 'doable', that's sure - but also certain to gulp billions, waste up to 10-15 years (should there be doubts, check how long it took to develop the Su-30MKI... and that in peace), and then result in a jet that's going to be some 20-30 years 'behind what else is available on the market'.
(Should there be doubts: see the VKS receiving money to construct urgently-necessary hardened aircraft shelters for its tactical fighter bombers, then most of that money disappearing without a trace, and precious aircraft ending being 'sheltered' by thin aluminium plates...)
If there are still doubts, let me try it with this example: there are good reasons why the Chinese have re-built all of Su-27s and Su-30s they've bought from Russia into their own variants of the same, and then developed their own, entirely new variants, and them completely re-/equipped with their own, indigenous avionics and weaponry.
With other words: fundamental requirements of the IAF are not fitting; the Russian aviation industry is a 'bardak', no 'reliable partner', and this is all making the idea of 'buying Su-57' anything else than 'easy'.
***
Bottom line: sorry to discourage/disapoint/frustrate, but India needs to find an alternative. And quickly at that. If for no other reason, then because the PRC meanwhile not only has 'stealth' fighter jets in operations, but because it's has the necessary doctrine, training, weaponry (PL-15, just for example) - and all the possible support platforms, too (see KJ-500H, see J-16D etc.). And, who can say if Doha and Beijing might find a solution for really dumping some J-35s upon Pakistan, too...
Push with the indigenous AMCA and Kaveri engine (the engine is making something like 50% of any such project; another 45-49% is the software... the airfame is the 'easiest part'): the Indian economy has the know-how, the capacity and the capability to build own stealth-fighter - if only financed enough to do so.
...or see to enter cooperation with the Franco-German FCAS project: alone the Indian investment into the same, not to talk about Indian IT-capabilities, are likelly to accelerate it by 5-10 years.
Moreover - and as should be obvious from what Qatar, UAE etc. are doing - the 'politics' in 'the West' is so endemically corrupt, that alone 'investing into Western defence sector' is also 'buying political influence'. Thus, you 'hit two flies with one stroke'...
Now for a reality check...
1.) What kind of 'source codes' would the Russians like to share with India?
Mind that the organisation of the UAK/OAK (Putin-controlled Russian aviation industry conglomerate, created per decree back in 2006) is such that foreign customers are strictly kept out of the R&D-loop. Per law. Means: whatever the Russians (more specifically: represenatives of the Rosoboronexport) might be 'promising', fact is that the reality is fundamentaly different.
(...and, do I need to remind about all of their 'promises' from the 1990s, and how much time and money have these cost India?)
2.) As far as I know, since around 1,5 years, the Russians are re-writing the sensor-integration software for Su-57 - and that for the third time in succession. Read: the first and the second attempt to write such software have both failed. Every such effort took the Russian IT-branch about five years, and every time it failed. And that in peace-time. But, now they should manage that - where it's no priority, and that amid an ongoing war?
Good luck...
3.) Not only the R&D of the rear section of the Su-57's fuselage, but also the R&D of the engines, production methods, skin, and paint are all incomplete - and unlikely to ever become complete. In the words of responsible Russian directors, 'we'be forgotten how to make engines': the know-how (including all the technical documentation) is gone. ...and, by best will: I doubt they'll ever learn that about 'skins of stealth jets'...
4.) Russia has no 'stealth-fighter-suitable' weapons whatsover. Sure, there are few paper designs. Foremost, the Kh-69 was presented in mock up form; some are claiming that it was deployed against Ukraine, too. However, currently, I know of no evidence for its series production.
...nor, actually, for any kind of a _Russian_-designed air-to-ground guided weapon entering series production, except for the Izdeliye-305, a.k.a. LMUR.
5.) Su-57 is, currently, 'incompatible' with the Brahmos missile. Indeed, unless the (smaller, lighter) Brahmos NG becomes available, nothing of this is possible (theoretically, Brahmos NG is downsized to dimensions enabling its installation under the wings, though at the cost of runing the stealthiness). On the contrary, 'just hanging a Brahmos' in the tunnel between the engine nacelles of the Su-57 is not going to work: it would not only block the weapons bays there, but is simply not envisaged by the Su-57's internal structure.
6.) Similarly, 'fitting' something Indian-made like Astra Mk. I, Mk.II or Mk.III/Gandiva LRAAM into the Su-57 sounds 'easy', but is not. Actually, it's near sure to require significant re-design of the internal structure of the jet... and that's not to talk about 'avionics'...
...and when you start re-designing internal structure and avionics... then don't forget to re-design the internal power-supply, too... otherwise you end like Russian Su-30s, which can't power-up their radars to their full power because they're lacking the necessary power-supply ('electricity')...
7.) Regardless if it's about their fighter jets, AWACS aircraft, or guided weapons, the Russians have next to no own, and are so badly short on foreign (principally US-made) high-tech they need for their high-tech weaponry (see installation of US-made chips and motherboards into their Kh-101 cruise missiles as a good example), last year in February they've had to cancell the A-100 AWACS project. Because they couldn't obtain the necessary electronics from abroad.
But, they should manage that in the case of the Su-57? What a surprise there's just 'slow production' (ho-hum) of its '0-series'...
Actually, this means that if India wants to get involved in the Su-57, it's first got to find a way to either bypass Western sanctions on export of US-made high-tech, and its installation into the Su-57. Hands up whoever is sure this would not risk the US wrath over such issues like, just for example, the supply of engines for the LCA/Tejas...
8.) Above all, and as the IAF concluded already years ago, the Russians are insistent on developing the Su-57 as 'air superiority fighter', while the IAF - actually - needs a '(two-seat) striker'.
***
Either way: while 'logical' and 'plausible', especially to Indian fans of Russian... erm... 'high tech'... that's neither 'easy', even less so 'cheap'. Especially with such a project being run in Russia, 'under the cloak of the OAK'... oh dear... hand on heart: one could never be sure what (of Indian) money is spent for what, and what disappearing in who-knows-what pockets.
It's 'doable', that's sure - but also certain to gulp billions, waste up to 10-15 years (should there be doubts, check how long it took to develop the Su-30MKI... and that in peace), and then result in a jet that's going to be some 20-30 years 'behind what else is available on the market'.
(Should there be doubts: see the VKS receiving money to construct urgently-necessary hardened aircraft shelters for its tactical fighter bombers, then most of that money disappearing without a trace, and precious aircraft ending being 'sheltered' by thin aluminium plates...)
If there are still doubts, let me try it with this example: there are good reasons why the Chinese have re-built all of Su-27s and Su-30s they've bought from Russia into their own variants of the same, and then developed their own, entirely new variants, and them completely re-/equipped with their own, indigenous avionics and weaponry.
With other words: fundamental requirements of the IAF are not fitting; the Russian aviation industry is a 'bardak', no 'reliable partner', and this is all making the idea of 'buying Su-57' anything else than 'easy'.
***
Bottom line: sorry to discourage/disapoint/frustrate, but India needs to find an alternative. And quickly at that. If for no other reason, then because the PRC meanwhile not only has 'stealth' fighter jets in operations, but because it's has the necessary doctrine, training, weaponry (PL-15, just for example) - and all the possible support platforms, too (see KJ-500H, see J-16D etc.). And, who can say if Doha and Beijing might find a solution for really dumping some J-35s upon Pakistan, too...
Push with the indigenous AMCA and Kaveri engine (the engine is making something like 50% of any such project; another 45-49% is the software... the airfame is the 'easiest part'): the Indian economy has the know-how, the capacity and the capability to build own stealth-fighter - if only financed enough to do so.
...or see to enter cooperation with the Franco-German FCAS project: alone the Indian investment into the same, not to talk about Indian IT-capabilities, are likelly to accelerate it by 5-10 years.
Moreover - and as should be obvious from what Qatar, UAE etc. are doing - the 'politics' in 'the West' is so endemically corrupt, that alone 'investing into Western defence sector' is also 'buying political influence'. Thus, you 'hit two flies with one stroke'...
