The Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Defense, Rajesh Kumar Singh, has stated that India does not plan to procure any new Russian Sukhoi fighter jets, including the Su-57 model, in the near future. According to Singh, Indian authorities are currently prioritizing the modernization of the existing air fleet rather than acquiring additional aircraft. Singh confirmed that India already operates approximately 260 Su-30MKI aircraft, which are manufactured domestically under a Russian license.
Regarding the potential purchase of upgraded Sukhoi jets, he stated, “No, we have not considered buying new Sukhoi jets. India is actively working on modernizing the Su-30 jets that we already produce under Russian license.”
This statement contrasts with previous offers from the Russian side. Reports indicated that Moscow had previously offered India the purchase of between 36 and 40 Su-57 aircraft, an offer that had been reiterated by President Vladimir Putin in June.
The official declaration suggests that, at present, India’s defense strategy emphasizes enhancing the capabilities of its current air assets. Consequently, the acquisition of new Russian aircraft is not considered part of India’s immediate short-term defense procurement plans. The focus remains squarely on upgrading the performance and longevity of the existing operational fleet.
Topics: #new #india #russian
