Russian media: India dreams of having the "coolest stealth fighter"!

Defense Minister: "This will outshine all aircraft."

On May 29, Russian media published an expert article.

When the smoke from the recent India-Pakistan conflict was still lingering, India decided it was time to embrace something grandiose - the "most advanced stealth fighter"!

According to Interface News, on May 27, 2025, India's Ministry of Defense approved the project.

India's minister Rajnath Singh solemnly signed the document, and India is now ready to rush into the skies with the fifth-generation twin-engine medium fighter.

Singh said, "We will build the coolest stealth fighter in the world! This will make all aircraft pale in comparison."

Let's see how real this "most advanced" aircraft is and when we might see it - if we ever do.

What is "fifth generation"?

Stealth: Make the enemy radar think it's just a bird.

Super cruise: Fly faster than sound without consuming tons of fuel.

Super maneuverability: Barrel rolls so pilots don't lose their lunch.

Information advantage: The aircraft is smarter than all the hackers in the world combined.

Aircraft like this are already flying: America's F-22 and F-35, China's J-20 and J-35, Russia's Su-57.

India can currently only produce the lightweight LCA Tejas, which they proudly call the "fourth-plus generation."

Now for the serious part, India has several problems:

Engines? How about engines?

India bought General Electric F404 and F414 engines from the U.S., with a maximum thrust of 10 to 12 tons.

Stealth?

Making an aircraft with low radar visibility requires super materials and technology, which India doesn't have. Simply painting the plane black and turning off the lights won't work.

Avionics? Imports?

Radar, sensors, electronics - all of these are imported by India.

India is currently undertaking a series of projects simultaneously: Tejas Mk1A, Mk2, deck TEDBF, and now AMCA. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is struggling between projects and resources, leaking like a sieve.

When can it fly?

Maybe by 2050.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833411974281216/

Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author alone.