Aero India 2025 begins tomorrow, with a major showdown between two fifth-generation stealth fighters: Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 and the US’ Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Both jets are vying for India’s attention, as the country strengthens its air force.
India’s Need for Fifth-Generation Fighters
Currently, India lacks any fifth-generation fighters. While the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates the Rafale, it is a 4.5-generation fighter. In 2024, the Indian government approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, which is expected to be ready by 2035. This will make India one of the few countries with its own fifth-generation stealth aircraft.
China’s Growing Air Power
China is quickly advancing in the fighter jet race. It has already built over 300 Chengdu J-20 jets and is developing new sixth-generation fighters. This gives China a significant advantage over India. Additionally, China is offering Pakistan its future Shenyang J-35 jets, further complicating India’s position.
Analyst Angad Singh believes that while Pakistan may struggle to fully utilize this technology, China’s support could help Pakistan balance power in the region. He predicts that by the time India acquires fifth-generation jets, China will be even further ahead in technology.
Urgency for India’s Air Strength
With rising tensions in South Asia, India faces increasing pressure to act. China is expanding its air power, and India must keep pace. The Chengdu J-36 and Shenyang J-50, two of China’s sixth-generation jets, show that China is not slowing down.
Aero India 2025 will feature a fierce competition between the Su-57 and the F-35, both aiming to meet India’s need for advanced aircraft.
India’s Path to a Fifth-Generation Fighter
India’s journey toward a fifth-generation fighter began in 2007, when it partnered with Russia on the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project. This plane was designed with advanced sensors and weapons, but India pulled out in 2018 due to technical and financial challenges.
Turning to the AMCA project, India is developing a 25-tonne, twin-engine jet to counter China’s growing air power. The AMCA’s stealth capabilities will help it evade radar detection.
AMCA: A Step Toward Self-Reliance
The AMCA Mk1 will use the GE414 engine, while the more advanced Mk2 will feature a powerful engine developed by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) with a foreign partner. The AMCA is part of India’s goal to become more self-reliant in defense technology.
