US F-35 with accurate target or Russian SU-57 with 12 hypersonic missiles, which fighter jet will India select?

Both countries want to showcase their fighter jets.

Aero India 2025: Aero India 2025 has begun. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated it. However, the main attractions of this show are the two major countries, the USA and Russia. Both countries have brought their fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the SU-57 (Russia) and the F-35 (US). Both countries will showcase the strength of their fighter jets at this show. Now, it is very important to understand why we are discussing these two fighter jets.

India is currently working on the HAL Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (HAL AMCA) of the fifth generation. In fact, in January 2025, the Trump administration urged India to significantly increase its purchase of American military technology. They want to reduce Russia’s dominance in the defense market. Washington has sent its fighter jets to India, emphasizing commitment. However, looking at recent days, India has purchased a larger quantity of military equipment from Russia.

Both countries want to showcase the strength of their fighter jets to sell to India. However, India would like to know their features before purchasing them for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Let’s find out what the differences are between the two fighter jets.

Construction and Development: The Su-57 has been developed by the Sukhoi company in Russia. It is capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes. The F-35 has been manufactured by America’s Lockheed Martin. It is a multi-role stealth fighter jet.

Stealth Capacity: The design of the Su-57 is not entirely for stealth. Its stealth technology is less effective compared to the F-22 and F-35. The F-35’s stealth technology is of high quality. It does not easily appear on enemy radar.

Engine and Speed: The Su-57 is equipped with the Saturn AL-41F1 engine, which allows it to fly at a speed of 2.25 Mach (Mach)/ 2778 KMPH. The F-35 is equipped with the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine. With its help, it can fly at a maximum speed of 1.6 Mach (Mach)/ 1432 KMPH.

How Much Load At Once: The Su-57 has 12 weapon payload points. Hypersonic missiles, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles can be deployed on them. Meanwhile, the F-35 has only 6 internal and external weapon stations. It is capable of carrying air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons.

Target Tracking: The Su-57 is equipped with the N036 Belka AESA radar system, which can track multiple targets simultaneously. The F-35 has the AN/APG-81 AESA radar and Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), which can track enemy locations more effectively.

Combat Capability: The Su-57 is capable of supercruise at supersonic speeds, meaning it can fly at supersonic speeds without using afterburners. This directly means it can complete missions over long distances without burning excessive fuel. F-35 does not have supercruise capability, meaning it has to burn extra fuel to fly at supersonic speeds.

Multirole Capability: The Su-57 is designed for air and ground strike missions, but is primarily better in dogfights. The F-35 is a true multirole fighter jet. It is capable of aerial warfare, spying, electronic warfare, and ground attack.

Manoeuvrability: The Su-57 has thrust-vectoring technology, making it extremely dangerous in dogfights. The F-35 is not as advanced as the F-22 and Su-57. It is designed for multirole purposes.

Operational Status And Price: The Su-57 is operational only in Russia, and that too in limited numbers. Its price ranges from $35 million to $50 million. The F-35: it is operational in many countries around the world, and its price ranges from $80 million to $110 million.