Exclusive: No Su-57 Decision Yet, Says Defence Secretary. India Leans On AI Networks To Bridge Stealth Gaps

The government has not taken any decision so far on the acquisition of the Russian Sukhoi-57 stealth fighter jet despite the overwhelming gap with the Chinese Air Force. China is believed to operate approximately 500 radar-evading J-20 and J-35 fighter jets while India presently has none in service with the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) close to a decade from its initial entry into Indian Air Force (IAF) service, assuming it clears integration and flight trials.The first AMCA prototype is expected to roll out in September 2028, according to India's Defence Secretary RK Singh."On the induction of fifth-generation fighter aircraft from global sources, the government has not taken a decision as yet," Singh said at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026. "As of now, our fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme is AMCA.