India buying US F‑35 or Russian Su‑57? Defence Secretary RK Singh reveals India's big plan for stealth fighter jet
India is not in any formal talks with the United States or Russia for acquiring fifth-generation stealth fighters like the F-35A or Su-57E, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh clarified on Friday. Instead, the country is focusing on developing its own fifth-generation aircraft—the
Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
(AMCA)—with an estimated timeline of eight years.
No formal talks on F-35A or Su-57E: Defence Secy
'On F-35A and Sukhoi Su-57 E, whatever has been discussed has been informal. We don't have any formal consultation going on on these,' Singh told ANI in a podcast. He added that the focus is on indigenous capability: 'What I can talk about is our fifth-generation fighter, which will be the AMCA.'
AMCA project opens to private firms
For the first time, India has opened the AMCA programme to private aerospace companies. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) released a Request for Information (RFI) on Thursday, inviting bids from both public and private sector players.
'We've kept it open for the public and private sectors for the first time. The intent is that we need to have at least two aircraft manufacturers in the country, if not more,' Singh said. 'For the AMCA, the timeline is about eight years.'
Execution model offers equal opportunity
The AMCA programme will follow a competitive Execution Model approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last month. It allows Indian companies to bid individually, through joint ventures or as consortiums. The model aims to create a level playing field across the defence aviation industry.
Live Events
You Might Also Like:
Pakistan to get 40 more Chinese J-35 stealth jets soon: What are its capabilities and should India be concerned?
HAL will benefit from competition, says Singh
While HAL remains the only established military aircraft manufacturer in the country, Singh said competition would ultimately help the public-sector giant. 'There was a committee headed by me… that gave the report we need to open it up… HAL will also gain from healthy competition,' he said.
He acknowledged HAL's existing limitations: 'The LCA production line has not stabilised, largely because of delays in engine supplies from the US… But they already have six years of orders with them.'
Decline in reliance on Russian defence supplies
Singh also said India's dependence on Russian equipment has reduced over the years. 'The percentage would have come down… maybe 40 per cent or so, from about 65–70 per cent earlier,' he said.
You Might Also Like:
Hypersonic missiles, next-gen BrahMos, new air defence: DRDO chief reveals long list of India's future-ready weapons
Pakistan proposes Nobel Peace Prize for Donald Trump, says he played 'pivotal role during India-Pakistan crisis'
However, global conflicts have disrupted defence imports from multiple partners, including Russia, Israel, France, and the United States. 'The S-400s… are delayed, but where we now have a firm schedule; they'll come next year by April,' Singh noted. He also said some Israeli contracts faced delays due to the country's ongoing conflict.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
India vs the oil choke point: How we're dodging the Strait of Hormuz fallout amid the Israel–Iran war
Military conflict in the Middle East is intensifying. Following US airstrikes on three of Iran's nuclear sites, Tehran has threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow but essential maritime passage between Iran and Oman that handles about 20 per cent of the world's daily oil consumption. Iranian lawmaker and Revolutionary Guards Commander Esmail Kosari stated that closure "is on the agenda and will be done whenever necessary." Press TV reported that Iran's Parliament has approved the proposal and the Supreme National Security Council will take the final call. This has raised alarms globally. Oil tankers are already hesitating to enter the region. Around 50 large tankers are currently navigating out of the strait, according to media reports. What the Strait of Hormuz means for India This 33-kilometre-wide passage links the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. India, the world's third-largest oil importer, gets over 40 per cent of its crude and about half its gas from countries whose shipments pass through this strait. That means around 2 million barrels per day of Indian imports move through this bottleneck. "If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, India will definitely suffer," said Robinder Sachdev, a foreign affairs expert, in an interview with ANI. "About 20 per cent of the world's crude oil and 25 per cent of the world's natural gas flow through these." Live Events For every $10 rise in oil prices, India's GDP takes a hit of 0.5 per cent, he warned. India's diversification: Why panic may be premature Despite the Strait's significance, India may not feel the full brunt of its closure. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told NDTV, "We have enough diversified supplies of crude, and even if there were to be a disruption, we can source it from alternative suppliers. I don't think this is something we are unduly worried about." Russia has become India's top crude supplier, overtaking the Middle East. According to Kpler data, Indian refiners imported 2.1–2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil in June—more than from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait combined. Imports from the US also rose to 439,000 bpd in June, up from 280,000 bpd in May. These imports do not rely on the Strait of Hormuz. Russian crude flows via the Suez Canal, Cape of Good Hope, or the Pacific Ocean. India also draws LNG from Australia, Russia, and the US, and Qatar's LNG for India avoids the strait altogether. That limits gas supply exposure as well. Market volatility: A real concern Geopolitical risk is already fuelling oil price spikes . Brent crude has jumped to $77 per barrel following Iran's missile retaliation against Israel. Analysts at Goldman Sachs say prices could exceed $90 if tensions escalate. Citigroup estimates prices could reach that mark specifically if the Strait is shut. "Oil markets remain adequately supplied," said Jain from Yes Securities. He cited OPEC's 4 million bpd spare capacity and US shale oil as stabilising forces. But not everyone is reassured. Credit agency ICRA warned that higher oil prices would erode the profits of Indian state-run retailers like IOC, BPCL and HPCL, which have kept domestic prices steady despite falling global benchmarks. Strategic backstops in place India has buffers. It holds strategic reserves covering 9 to 10 days of oil imports. It also exports petroleum products, primarily through private refiners like Reliance and Nayara, giving it some flexibility in domestic fuel management. If needed, the government could limit exports and introduce price subsidies for diesel and LPG to contain inflation. Could Iran really shut it down? History says no Iran has threatened to close the strait before but never followed through. During the 1980s Tanker War, the strait remained operational despite missile attacks and naval confrontations. In 2011 and again in 2019, Iran made similar threats in response to sanctions. Each time, the route stayed open. Shweta Singh of South Asian University explained why. "It will hurt Iran's friend, China, the world's second-largest economy, and Iran's largest trading partner," she wrote in Mint. China buys nearly 75 per cent of Iran's oil exports. It would also strain ties with Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and fuel domestic unrest due to inflation. "Any economic hits or closure of its oil exporting terminal will see a surge in prices and fuel popular discontent," Singh added. Steven Schork of the Schork Group echoed this: "I do not think Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz because it would hurt India and China, two of their biggest oil export clients." So far, supplies remain intact. However, data from Kpler shows a drop in Middle East tanker activity. The number of empty tankers headed into the Gulf has dropped from 69 to 40. Signals bound for the region from the Gulf of Oman have halved. "Vessel activity suggests a decline in crude loadings from the Middle East in the coming days," Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst at Kpler, told PTI. India will need to watch closely, and adapt fast if the situation worsens. But for now, thanks to a broad and nimble import strategy, it stands more prepared than many. The Strait of Hormuz may be heating up, but India isn't yet sweating.
India Today
37 minutes ago
- India Today
Why India may not feel the heat if Iran closes Strait of Hormuz
India is unlikely to feel the heat even if Iran decides to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but vital oil choke point, following the US's air strikes on Iran's nuclear sites amid heightened tensions in the Middle to industry officials and experts, India has diversified its sources of oil imports and alternative sources - from Russia to the US and Brazil - are readily available to fill any void in case the Strait of Hormuz shuts the military conflict between Iran and Israel escalates, the Iranian parliament has reportedly approved a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major LNG export transit and where a fifth of the world's oil flows. India imports about 40 per cent of all its oil and about half of its gas through the narrow STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS SIGNIFICANT FOR INDIA? The Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south, serves as the main route for oil exports from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and the UAE. Many liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, especially from Qatar, also pass through the the world's third-largest oil-importing and consuming nation, imports about 90 per cent of its crude oil, with over 40 per cent of those imports originating from Middle Eastern countries whose exports transit the Strait of brings around 5.1 million barrels of crude oil abroad, which is converted into fuels like petrol and diesel in A BIG BUYER OF RUSSIAN OILAs the Middle East remains in strife, India has ramped up purchases of Russian oil in June, importing more than the combined volumes from Middle Eastern suppliers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, preliminary data by global trade analytics firm Kpler imported an estimated 2.1-2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude, maintaining Russia's share at over 35 per cent of India's total crude intake, a pattern seen for over two Delhi, which has traditionally imported crude oil from the Middle East, began sourcing a large volume of oil from Russia after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. This was because Russian oil was available at a significant discount to other international benchmarks due to Western sanctions and some European nations shying led to India's imports of Russian oil seeing a dramatic rise, growing from less than 1 per cent of its total crude oil imports to a staggering 40-44 per cent in a short oil imports from Russia were 1.96 million bpd in from the United States also rose to 439,000 bpd in June, a big jump from 280,000 bpd purchased in the previous month. This signals a steady expansion in India's transatlantic trade links and a broader diversification of IMPORTS FROM MIDDLE EAST DIPFull-month projections for imports from the Middle East stand at around 2 million bpd, lower than the previous month's buying, according to conflict in the Middle East has so far not impacted oil supplies."While supplies remain unaffected so far, vessel activity suggests a decline in crude loadings from the Middle East in the coming days," Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining and Modeling at Kpler, told news agency PTI."Shipowners are hesitant to send empty tankers (ballasters) into the Gulf, with the number of such vessels dropping from 69 to just 40, and (Middle East and Gulf) MEG-bound signals from the Gulf of Oman halving."IMPACT ON INDIA AND ALTERNATIVE SOURCESThe heightened tensions in the world's largest energy supply basket would, however, have a near-term impact on prices, with oil prices likely to jump to USD 80 per barrel, analysts oil is logistically detached from the Strait of Hormuz, flowing via the Suez Canal, Cape of Good Hope, or the Pacific Ocean. Even US, West African, and Latin American flows - though costlier - are increasingly viable backup options in case the Strait of Hormuz shuts gas, India's principal supplier, Qatar, does not use the Strait of Hormuz for supplies to India. India's other sources of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Australia, Russia and the US would be untouched by any can also release oil from its strategic reserves (covering nine to 10 days of imports) to bridge any shortfall. It may also pivot harder towards the US, Nigeria, Angola, and Brazil for oil imports, albeit at higher freight government can also consider price subsidies to curb inflation if domestic prices spike, especially for diesel and an interview with India Today TV, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri allayed concerns about a spike in oil prices amid the Middle East conflict, saying the situation was manageable and energy rates were under control.(with inputs from PTI)Must Watch IN THIS STORY#Israel#Iran#Middle East
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Trump pushed US into another war': Putin aide calls strikes on Iran nuclear sites a failure
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has launched a scathing attack on the United States over its airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, alleging that the strikes failed to inflict any meaningful damage on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev criticised U.S. strikes on Iran, claiming they caused little damage to its nuclear infrastructure.(AP File) He claimed the attacks have instead strengthened the Iranian regime and drawn Washington deeper into a broader Middle East conflict. Follow live updates on the Iran-Israel conflict here In a series of posts on X, Medvedev listed the consequences of the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. He said some countries might now be willing to give Iran nuclear weapons. 'Critical infrastructure of the nuclear fuel cycle appears to have been unaffected or sustained only minor damage. The enrichment of nuclear material — and, now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons — will continue. A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads,' wrote Dmitry Medvedev. 'Israel is under attack, explosions are rocking the country, and people are panicking. The US is now entangled in a new conflict, with prospects of a ground operation looming on the horizon,' he added. Read: Bombers flew undetected for 18 hours: How US launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites He criticised Donald Trump for dragging the US into another war, said global opinion is largely against the US and Israel, and mocked Trump's chances of ever winning a Nobel Peace Prize. 'Even stronger now': Medvedev says US strikes failed to weaken Iran regime 'Iran's political regime has survived — and in all likelihood, has come out even stronger. The people are rallying around the country's spiritual leadership, including those who were previously indifferent or opposed to it. Donald Trump, once hailed as 'president of peace,' has now pushed the US into another war,' said Medvedev. Read more: How US military's decoy B-2 Bomber mission helped it achieve stealth before Iran strikes 'The vast majority of countries around the world oppose the actions of Israel and the United States. At this rate, Trump can forget about the Nobel Peace Prize — not even with how rigged it has become. What a way to kick things off, Mr. President. Congratulations!' Dmitry Medvedev mentioned.
