News24 Limited: F-35 vs Sukhoi Su-57, stealth showdown

US President Donald Trump said his administration is working to provide India with sophisticated F-35 stealth fighters, as announced during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move is part of the growing Indian-US defense partnership, aimed at increasing military sales to India by billions of dollars.

Colonel (Retd.) Sanjeet Sirohi, a specialist in Renowned Defense and Foreign Relation and television penalty, Sanjeet Sirohi explains why stealth aircraft are important to India in this exclusive interview with Akshat Mittal of News24. I’m doing it. He explains how the American F-35 competes with the Russian Skoy SU-57.

Dive deeper into the conversation for more insights.

F-35 vs Sukhoi Su-57: Excerpt

Question – Why is stealth technology important for modern fighters and how does it give it an advantage in enemy airspace?

Answer – The biggest problem today is that aircraft like drones are becoming increasingly detectable by radar. As soon as you enter enemy airspace, your aircraft or drone will be locked with radar. When locked, missiles from enemy defense systems will be automatically fired, potentially destroying the aircraft. This is the main threat. However, the biggest advantage today is stealth technology, preventing radar detection.

For example, when Israel used its F-35 jets to attack Iranian military facilities, the aircraft could not detect it on enemy radar. The aircraft completed the mission and returned without intercepting. If other aircraft had been used, they would have been detected and destroyed by enemy air defense systems. Stealth aircraft skillfully manage heat emissions and prevent radar systems from detecting them. Additionally, they carefully control the altitude and avoid sudden changes in height that can trigger radar detection. Therefore, using stealth fighter jets is important for any country in the world today.

Question – How does the F-35 compare to the Sukhoi Su-57?

Answer – The first thing we need to understand is that the F-35 is the best fighter jet in the world today. Shortly after Russia offered the Sukhoi SU-57, US President Donald Trump provided us with the F-35. When comparing both aircraft, there are three or four important parameters to consider.

The first parameter is speed. The Sukhoi SU-57 has a top speed of 2,137 km/h, while the F-35 has a top speed of 1,931 km/h. The second parameter is the range. Each aircraft is the distance that can be travelled to reach and back from the target. The F-35 can travel up to 1,500 km, while the Sukhoi SU-57 ranges at 1,900 km. This means Sukhoi can go further without requiring air refueling.

The third difference is cost. The F-35 costs around $80-110 million per unit. In comparison, the Sukhoi SU-57 costs between $30 million and $40 million. That means it costs almost half the cost of an F-35.

However, the fourth difference is combat experience. The F-35 has already been tested in combat, with countries such as the US and Israel being successfully deployed in military operations. For example, the F-35 was used in the aforementioned strike. Meanwhile, Sukhoi Su-57 has seen some action in Ukraine, but it has not been widely used, and there was a crash in 2019, causing concerns about its reliability.

The F-35 also comes in different variations. One is a version designed for normal takeoff and landing, the other for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and for naval use. Given all these factors, there is no doubt that the F-35 is the best fighter at the moment in terms of capabilities and versatility.

Question – How does the F-35 compare to the Chinese J-20 in terms of overall capabilities?

Answer – The J-20 is also a fighter jet, with internal fuel loads. However, it cannot carry airborne blowns. It has a long-range missile, the PL-15. Plus, there’s a WS 15 engine. However, when comparing avionics, the F-35 is superior to the Chinese J-20 in terms of overall capabilities.

Question – What is the possibility that a stealth aircraft will be detected by an air defense system?

Answer – It is very difficult for an air defense system to detect the F-35. Like those with the Russian S-400, even the most advanced air defense systems will have a hard time detecting the F-35 because of their stealth capabilities. If the F-35 cannot be detected, the chances of Sukhoi SU-57 being detected are very unlikely. The F-35 is currently considered the best in stealth technology.

Question – Regarding Elon Musk, what are your opinions about criticizing the F-35 and defending drones in the Air Force?

Answer – As for your point about Elon Musk, the F-35 is often referred to as an innovative technology that is very similar to the advances Musk has made in other fields. The F-35 is so advanced that some argue that it can operate autonomously with minimal human involvement. Although technology continues to evolve, aircraft like the F-35s play a key role in military operations, especially in scenarios like attacks on Iran. Drones cannot replace fighter jets, particularly in terms of combat range, versatility, and payload capacity.

In the future, advances in science and technology could make drones even more capable. However, as of today, there are no drones that can completely replace the capabilities of fighter jets like the F-35.

Question – What do you think of India’s options for acquiring a fifth-generation fighter jet, specifically comparing the Sukhoi SU-57 and F-35?

Answer – A project is currently underway aimed at developing five generations of fighter jets. However, the project is still in its early stages and will take at least 10 years to get an operational aircraft, even if it achieves the right speed. DRDO is developing aircraft, and HAL produces them. Realistically, it can take 14-15 years to see the results, depending on how the work progresses.

As for the Light Fighter (LCA), we are not ready yet. The Mark I and Mark II prototypes are still in development and we are still waiting for the engine. The Air Force needs more aircraft as the need to compete with China is increasing. Additionally, other defense programs take time. The Mark II prototype, featured on Aero India, is not yet ready for mass production.

Currently, there are two options: the Sukhoi Su-57 or the F-35. Russia is ready to offer the SU-57, but it suggests that Donald Trump will be able to buy the F-35 in the future. However, the procurement process can take a long time, especially when there is a lot of money involved. As stated by government officials at a recent press conference, the procurement process is complicated and can take years.

Analyzing the available options technically, economically and logistically, the Sukhoi SU-57 appears to be the best option. It’s cost-effective and Russia is ready to offer it. Furthermore, we have already set up manufacturing plants in India to produce scores. Even if the US offers the F-35, it will still be manufactured in the US and supplied as a finished product. If the political situation changes and the US decides to withhold spare parts or upgrades, it leaves you with expensive aircraft that are difficult to maintain.

Additionally, maintenance, upgrades and spare parts make the total lifetime cost of owning an F-35 estimated at around $1.5 trillion. Is India ready to cover such costs? The only advantage of purchasing an F-35 is that it improves geopolitical relations with Western countries, particularly the US. However, we need to consider whether we can afford such expenses just to appease diplomacy.

In my opinion, the Sukhoi Su-57 is a better choice as it is technically and economically viable. It is delivered faster and can control production and upgrades.

Question – What potential threats could India face if Pakistan acquires stealth aircraft from China?

Answer – Pakistan is another reason for India’s stealth aircraft acquisition mission. So you will need to get a 5th generation stealth aircraft. One important drawback has already been mentioned. If you have options like the SukhoiSU-57, you will need to deal with the growing threat from China. At this point, Pakistan does not consider it a serious threat, as its military capabilities are not comparable to India.

Historically, Pakistan took action between 1948 and 1999, but obtaining stealth aircraft from China increases its ability to pose a serious threat. Therefore, it is important to acquire a fifth generation aircraft immediately, especially considering the changing dynamics of the region. In this situation, I think the Sukhoi SU-57 is the best option available.

Question – What are your thoughts on Donald Trump’s attitude toward illegal immigration? And do you think the way individuals were treated at the time of deportation was justified?

Answer – Donald Trump wants to address the issue of illegal immigration, claiming that they are working from American citizens. But why should illegal immigrants be allowed to stay? I don’t think the Indian government should raise this issue diplomatically. What is wrong is wrong, and it should not be justified.

Now, regarding the second question, should they be sent like this? They should not have been sent this way at all. What is the logic behind this when you tie your hands or bind your feet with a rope while you’re on the plane? What do you have to fear they will escape from the plane? Even if the plane stops somewhere along the way, it’s still secure. There is no immediate danger when you board the plane. However, one possible reason for this could be due to civil aviation regulations, where people are sometimes restrained to prevent security threats such as hijacking. This could have been done as a precaution.

But emotionally speaking, this should not happen. There may be a reason for this behavior, but as far as illegal immigration is concerned, it is wrong. We should not be involved in leaving our country and helping us enter other countries illegally.

Question – What do you think of Donald Trump’s statement that “Brick is dead”?

Answer – Donald Trump is, first and foremost, a businessman. Secondly, he is a showman. His main focus is always protecting American interests. Trump believes that if BRICS develops its own currency for trade, it could lower the dollar, a major concern for him. This is because the majority of global transactions are carried out in dollars and rarely occur in rubles or sources.

The US views BRICS as a potential threat, particularly given India’s important role in the group. However, India is a key stakeholder of BRICS, so this conversation should not have been raised when the Indian Prime Minister was in American soil.

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