Putin offers India joint production of Su-57 stealth fighter with 'no restrictions'

📌 Summary:

• At SPIEF, President Putin offered India joint production of the Su-57 — Russia's most advanced fifth-generation stealth fighter — with "no restrictions whatsoever" on technology transfer.
• The offer comes as India faces a growing fighter-aircraft gap before its indigenous Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) enters service (likely after 2035).
• Putin said the Su-57 could become a joint Russia-India product, with full readiness to co-develop and transfer technology; India responded cautiously ("let's see").
• Strategic context: deepening India-Russia defence cooperation amid US tariff pressure linked to India's Russian arms and oil purchases.

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 (defence technology, indigenisation vs. import); GS2 (India-Russia strategic partnership). Touches on India's fighter-fleet modernisation and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence).

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Su-57 is Russia's fifth-generation stealth fighter.
• AMCA = Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft, India's indigenous fifth-gen fighter programme, induction likely after 2035.
• Offer made at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

🔑 Key Term: Fifth-generation fighter — a combat aircraft featuring stealth (low radar signature), supercruise, advanced avionics, and integrated sensor fusion.