SU-57: INDIA'S NEXT RUSSIAN GAMBLE

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) signed an MoU with UAC to produce the near-100-seat SJ-100 regional jet in India. Russian aviation giant UAC also signed a deal to supply six Ilyushin Il-114-300 aircraft to India’s Flamingo Aerospace. AIR MARSHAL ANIL CHOPRA (RETD) dissects the possibilities

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Russia is also aggressively pushing India to co-produce the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter aircraft. Russia and India are working closely on air defence systems such as the S-400 and the BrahMos missiles, both world-class military products.

There are many other areas of joint work in space, submarines, and nuclear fields.

The US and the West are often credited with more advanced technologies, but the Soviets were the first to put a man in space, build a space station, and use hypersonic missiles in combat.

Besides fighter jets with tremendous manoeuvrability and aerodynamic-defying agility, Russians produce some of the best aerial and ground-based missiles, and they are very advanced in metallurgy and nuclear weaponry.

The success of the MiG-21 had forced the USA to set up two MiG-killer air-combat schools. The Mi-8/17 were the most used helicopter of its class, and the AK-47 was a world-beater rifle.

They managed all this with shoestring budgets, and only with the hard work and technological prowess of their scientists. Russia is the world's largest country, covering nearly 12% of the Earth's landmass, and it also has abundant oil and gas, as well as other natural resources.

Today, Russians face economic pressures, lack the skills and workforce for large-scale manufacturing, and face a shrinking defence market.

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India is a rising economic power with a soon-to-be third-largest economy, the largest population, and one of the biggest markets. India is also highly threatened by two nuclear-powered neighbours.

While India continues to reduce its reliance on Russian arms, it is still a good time for India and Russia to work closely on certain defence equipment, especially in the aerospace sector.