Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said in a press conference that the fifth-generation fighter jet would be discussed during the trip. “It is not an over exaggeration, it is the best plane in the world. And Su57 will be on the agenda during the coming visit,” Peskov said. He declined to share specifics, adding, “Let’s not talk about the details. There are a lot of competitors, and some of the competitors are not sticking their business to international law. So, sometimes they can do bad things in order to make unjust competition.”
On the question of S-400 air defence systems, Peskov said the topic is high on the agenda. He added that Russia has increased its defence production to ensure it can meet the operational demands in Ukraine as well as export requirements.
India had earlier withdrawn from the joint Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme with Russia in 2018 over differences in cost, technology sharing, and performance expectations. Since then, India has been developing its own indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with the first prototype expected to roll out by 2028 and full-scale production targeted for 2035.
Russia is still India’s largest defence supplier
According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia remained India’s largest source of military hardware over the four-year period ending in 2024, even though total purchases fell notably during that time. India currently operates more than 200 Russian fighter jets and possesses several S-400 air defence batteries, which were deployed during the brief conflict with Pakistan in May. With the Air Force short of combat aircraft, service chiefs have urged the government to consider acquiring next-generation fighters from Moscow.
Bloomberg has reported that India plans to examine options not only for the Su-57 but also for the S-500 air defence system. The discussions would add to an extensive defence partnership that already includes S-400 systems, licensed production of Sukhoi-30 and MiG-29 jets, T-90 tanks, stealth frigates, Kamov helicopters, and joint ventures such as the BrahMos missile and AK-203 rifle.
Energy cooperation and oil trade
Peskov also highlighted Russia’s role in India’s energy security. He added that Russia is actively exploring possibilities to sell oil to buyers despite current challenges, stating, “We are working on creating a necessary environment to ensure the rights for us to sell oil and for our buyers to purchase it.”
Economic ties to feature during summit
Beyond defence and energy, economic relations are expected to share space on the agenda. New Delhi will host a mega India-Russia Business Forum on 4 and 5 December, coinciding with Putin’s visit, as both nations aim to achieve $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
(With inputs from ANI)
