The race for stealth dominance is heating up, and India is closer than ever.
When reports emerged that HAL’s Nashik facility had achieved nearly 50 % readiness to build Russia’s Su-57 E fighter jets, I saw more than just another defence headline. To me, it symbolised India standing at a decisive crossroads, between learning from Russia and leading on its own.
With Su-57 production in the Nashik facility, India’s stealth dream has truly found its runway in Nashik.
From my perspective, this is not just about producing a new aircraft but about re-engineering India’s aerospace identity.
India’s Journey Toward Stealth Power
India’s quest for a fifth-generation fighter began with the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), developed by DRDO and HAL.
However, with China’s J-20 Mighty Dragon already patrolling the skies and the U.S. deploying the F-35 Lightning II, India’s Air Force faces an urgent modernisation need.
The Su-57 production in India could bridge that gap, helping India leapfrog into stealth technology while nurturing domestic industry under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Russia’s Offer: The Su-57 Comes to Nashik
The Su-57 E Proposal
Russia has offered India the Su-57 E export variant, backed by technology transfer and local manufacturing. The proposal directly mentions HAL’s Nashik facility, already proven through decades of Su-30 MKI production.
Why Nashik Is Ideal for Su-57 Production
- Proven experience in fighter airframe assembly and integration
- Skilled workforce with years of Sukhoi production expertise
- Land, water, power and runway infrastructure already upgraded for heavy-class fighter testing
- Electrification, logistics corridors and supply facilities expanded to support stealth production
- Network of MSMEs under Atmanirbhar Bharat, supplying composites, avionics and precision parts
- Local supply chain is about 70 % ready for indigenisation and rapid scaling for Su-57 needs
Russia’s defence exporter Rosoboronexport has stated that Su-57 production in the Nashik facility could begin soon after approval, with minimal setup time.
Adding momentum, President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India in December 2025, when the Su-57 E deal is likely to be finalised along with expanded S-400 Make-in-India cooperation.
Also Read: Su-57E Deal India: 40 Flyaway + 90 HAL Jets Near Putin Visit
Su-57 production in the Nashik facility: 50 % Readiness
In late 2025, a Russian technical delegation inspected HAL’s infrastructure at Nashik and Koraput. Their internal assessment confirmed that HAL is already 50 % ready to start Su-57 E production.
What “50 % Ready” Means
- Existing assembly lines are adaptable to the stealth fighter structure
- Testing and flight facilities meeting certification norms
- Skilled design and integration teams trained on complex airframes
However, the remaining 50 % requires building stealth composite workshops, radar-absorbent coating lines, and AI-driven precision automation systems.
Why India needs Su-57E and Okhotnik-B for India: Stealth MUM-T Power?
Can the Nashik Facility Develop the Su-57 E?
Yes, but it needs a coordinated effort between HAL, DRDO and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation.
What HAL Needs to Add
- Dedicated composite manufacturing units for radar-invisible surfaces
- Advanced digital manufacturing systems for minimal-tolerance assembly
- Radar Cross-Section (RCS) testing infrastructure
- AL-41 F1 and Izdeliye 30 engine integration bays
| Capability Area | HAL Nashik Current Strength | Su-57 E Production Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Airframe Assembly | Proven on Su-30 MKI | Stealth composite structures |
| Engine Integration | AL-31 FP experience | AL-41 F1 / Izdeliye 30 adaptation |
| Avionics | Domestic radar systems | Sensor-fusion and data-link networks |
| Quality Testing | Stress & flight validation | RCS certification labs |
In my view, Nashik already has the backbone for India’s stealth ecosystem. The challenge lies in scaling this readiness into a full-spectrum aerospace capability.
The Economic and Strategic Impact
How Su-57 Production Benefits India
- Creates thousands of high-skill jobs across Nashik and its supplier base
- Modernises India’s aerospace manufacturing through digital-twin systems
- Encourages private industry and MSMEs to join advanced defence production
- Strengthens India’s defence-export capacity and credibility in global markets
Challenges Ahead
- Heavy capital investment for stealth-material facilities
- Maintaining supply amid global sanctions
- Balancing Russian collaboration with indigenous progress
Every challenge, however, serves as a stepping stone toward technological independence.
Geopolitics: Balancing Superpowers
India’s Su-57 initiative arrives at a time when the world is redefining air dominance.
The U.S. markets the F-35, Europe develops the Tempest, and China promotes the J-20.
For Russia, exporting Su-57 E ensures industrial stability despite sanctions.
For India, producing Su-57 jets in Nashik delivers strategic autonomy while maintaining balanced diplomacy with both the West and Russia.
This project extends the trusted defence lineage built through BrahMos missiles, T-90 tanks and nuclear submarine programmes.
Lessons from the FGFA Experience
India and Russia’s earlier FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) project ended in 2018 over technology-sharing issues and cost concerns.
The new Su-57 plan is fundamentally different—it focuses on production and integration, not joint design.
That difference gives India more control and a shorter path to operational readiness.
AMCA vs Su-57: Complementary, Not Competing
| Feature | Su-57 (Russia) | AMCA (India) |
|---|---|---|
| Generation | 5th | 5th |
| Status | Operational / Export | Prototype in development |
| Production | Planned at Nashik | Planned at new facility |
| Engine | AL-41 F1 / Izdeliye 30 | GE F414 (licensed) |
| Ownership | Russian IP | Indian IP |
| Role | Immediate stealth capability | Long-term autonomy |
Rather than competing, both programmes can strengthen each other.
Knowledge from Su-57 E production—stealth maintenance, flight software, RCS handling—will accelerate AMCA’s success.
Also Read: Comparing AMCA vs F-35, J-20, and Su-57: 5th Generation Fighters
My Perspective: The Middle Path Forward
From my point of view, India should adopt a phased strategy for Su-57 E localisation.
- Phase One: Establish assembly and testing lines for Su-57 E at Nashik.
- Phase Two: Gradually indigenise avionics, coatings and structural systems.
- Phase Three: Integrate all learnings into AMCA’s full-scale production.
This approach blends speed with sovereignty, strengthening HAL while keeping DRDO’s innovation pipeline alive.
My Final Perspective
I believe India should negotiate a phased partnership. Start with co-producing airframes and stealth coatings. Gradually move to complete systems integration. Keep all mission software and weapon customisation fully Indian.
This strategy would protect national interests, ensure continuous learning, and open export potential with friendly nations.
If executed correctly, the Nashik facility will develop Su-57 fighters that embody both Russian expertise and Indian independence.
The Broader Geopolitical Context
Stealth capability today defines not only defence strength but diplomatic weight.
Countries mastering fifth-generation aircraft shape global alliances and deterrence doctrines.
If India finalises the Su-57 E and S-400 Make-in-India agreements during President Putin’s December visit, it will mark a historic pivot in India’s military posture—from major importer to major producer.
Producing Su-57 E at Nashik will transform India from a buyer of platforms into a builder of power.
Conclusion: A New Chapter at Nashik
The HAL Su-57 production in the Nashik facility could be the defining leap in India’s aerospace evolution.
HAL’s reported 50 % readiness shows that the foundation exists; the remaining effort will test India’s resolve.
From Nashik’s runways may soon rise stealth jets that not only guard the skies but also symbolise India’s technological confidence.
The story of the Su-57 E is no longer about Russia’s jet—it is about India’s future in flight.