HAL Already Has 50% Capability to Manufacture Su-57 Stealth Fighters Domestically, Says Russian Team Report

In a significant development for India’s defence manufacturing ambitions, a visiting Russian technical delegation has concluded that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) already possesses nearly 50 per cent of the infrastructure and technological capacity needed to locally produce the Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft.

The finding was shared in a comprehensive report submitted to HAL last month by officials from the Sukhoi Design Bureau and other Russian defence entities. The assessment came ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s scheduled visit to New Delhi in the first week of December 2025, where defence collaboration is expected to be a key agenda item.

✈️ Assessment Highlights

According to defence sources familiar with the report, the Russian delegation inspected HAL’s key production units in September to evaluate the company’s manufacturing capabilities, technology infrastructure, and readiness for indigenous production of the Su-57E, the export variant of Russia’s advanced stealth fighter.

The inspection covered HAL’s facilities in Nashik, Koraput, and Bengaluru, where advanced machining, composite material production, and avionics integration processes are already in place.

The report concluded that HAL’s existing ecosystem for Su-30MKI production — developed through a long-standing Indo-Russian defence partnership — provides a strong foundation for expanding into fifth-generation aircraft manufacturing.

“HAL’s current infrastructure, combined with its experience in assembling and maintaining the Su-30MKI fleet, positions it well to adapt to fifth-generation fighter production requirements,” a defence official familiar with the assessment noted.

🤝 Background: India-Russia Defence Cooperation

India and Russia have a decades-long collaboration in military aviation. Under an Inter-Governmental Agreement signed in December 2000, HAL has been licensed to produce the Su-30MKI multirole fighter domestically — one of the mainstays of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The Su-57E project, if approved, would mark a major leap in India’s aerospace capabilities by introducing stealth technology, supermaneuverability, and advanced radar systems. It could also align with the Indian government’s “Make in India – Defence” initiative and strengthen the country’s push for self-reliance in next-generation aircraft production.

🛩️ Next Steps

While the Russian team’s report has been positively received, both sides are expected to deliberate on cost-sharing, technology transfer, and local production frameworks before finalizing a potential agreement.

Sources say the subject could feature prominently during Putin’s upcoming visit, alongside discussions on co-production of helicopters, engines, and advanced air defence systems.

If approved, the Su-57E project would make India one of the few nations capable of producing fifth-generation stealth fighters domestically — a milestone achievement in indigenous defence manufacturing.