India weighs Su‑57 purchase as US sanctions pressure defense deal

The Republic of India is evaluating the acquisition of 80‑100 Russian‑made Sukhoi Su‑57 fifth‑generation fighter jets as a stop‑gap until its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) enters service in the next decade. The decision is being shaped by the United States' recent “Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act,” which would impose 100 % tariffs on nations buying Russian military equipment, and by Washington’s offer of the F‑35 to Saudi Arabia, a move New Delhi views as a potential security threat.

India has a long‑standing reliance on Russian defence imports—about 59 % of its purchases since 2008—yet it has previously navigated US sanctions, notably when it bought the S‑400 air‑defence system. Regional pressures add urgency: China already operates J‑20 and J‑35 fighters and has pledged similar aircraft to Pakistan, heightening New Delhi’s drive to secure its own fifth‑generation capability.

The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs are monitoring the evolving sanctions landscape while maintaining dialogue with US stakeholders. Sources say that if Russia can deliver the jets, sanctions would not block the procurement.