Russia offers "irrefutable" deal on Su-57

Defense industry news March 18: Russia offers India an “irrefutable” deal on Su-57, ready to integrate Indian systems into the new aircraft.

Russia offers India an “irrefutable” deal on Su-57; identifies “hot” weapons on the international arms market are the contents of today’s defense industry news, March 18.

Identifying the "hot" weapons on the international arms market

Aviation and air defense systems remain the most in-demand categories in the global arms market. The top positions are highlighted by experts from the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT).

“ According to the value parameter, the export sales volume in the period 2025 - 2028 is distributed as follows: Military aviation equipment 175.022 billion USD (30.62%); air defense equipment 76.460 billion USD (13.38%); armored vehicles 76.217 billion USD (13.34%) ”, CAWAT assessed.

Air force and air defense weapons receive attention from many countries around the world. Photo: Getty

The top five also included naval equipment with a market share of 11.53% and helicopters (10.97%). Missile and artillery weapons came in sixth place (6.01%), and drones accounted for 2.67% of the total volume. It is worth noting that conventional unmanned systems are significantly cheaper than most air defense systems or manned aircraft.

In February 2025, CAWAT head Igor Korotchenko admitted that Russia is ready to transfer to India technology for the production of domestic Su-57 fighter jets.

Germany offers new military aid package to Ukraine

According to Defense News, Germany has updated its list of weapons delivered to Ukraine, including 24 MRAP armored vehicles, 1 missile system for IRIS-T SLM, 50 Vector reconnaissance drones with spare parts and other weapons. This information is included in the list of military aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, published on the German government's website.

In addition, the new aid package includes artillery shells for Leopard 1 tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, three Gepard self-propelled air defense vehicles, 10,000 Gepard ammunition, 5,000 155 mm artillery shells and 2,000 122 mm ammunition. Berlin also transferred to Kiev 30 Gereon RCS ground drones, 30 drone detection systems, two Wisent 1 armored mine clearance vehicles and spare parts, 100 H-PEMBS mobile mine clearance kits and two mine tugs.

Germany continues to be the leading aid donor to Ukraine. Photo: Defense News

The new aid package also includes 556 laser rangefinders, 255 infrared binoculars, two border guard vehicles, 8,000 120mm mortar shells, 95 MK 556 automatic rifles, 1,340 HK 416 automatic rifles and 487,000 first aid kits.

Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the United States. German Cabinet Secretary Steffen Hebestreit noted that since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Germany has provided Kiev with various types of aid totaling about 44 billion euros. According to the 2025 budget agreement, Germany is supposed to allocate about 4 billion euros for military assistance to Ukraine, half of what it was in 2024. However, the budget has not yet been approved by the German parliament.

Russia offers India “irrefutable” Su-57 deal

Russia has offered India a technology transfer agreement in case of purchasing Su-57 fighters. At the same time, it is envisioned that it will be possible to integrate into this aircraft the equipment that New Delhi wishes to install.

According to Topwar magazine, a senior Indian Air Force official shared with IDRW on the issue and stated that the Su-57 fighter mainly needs a radar upgrade: “Our onboard radar system is superior to the Russian radar. We have developed GaN (gallium nitride) based AESA radar, while the Russian aircraft has not yet fully switched to GaAs (gallium arsenide) based AESA radar.”

Russia is ready to integrate Indian technology into its export Su-57E aircraft. Photo: Topwar

Indian defense officials assess that the export version of the Su-57E is equipped with an X-band AESA H036 "Belka" nose radar, consisting of 1,514 transmit/receive (T/R) modules. Although this radar is a significant improvement over the old mechanically scanned arrays, it still uses the old GaAs technology.

GaN-based radars are much more efficient. One such radar is India's Uttam AESA radar, which consists of more than 1,400 transmitter/receiver modules. With more advanced technology, Uttam is said to have higher power output, improved thermal management, superior detection range, resolution, and target tracking capabilities.

“We may introduce this radar developed for India’s promising AMCA fighter and for upgrading the Su-30MKI to Super Sukhoi standard. It is considered a major technological breakthrough, although the system’s development is yet to be completed. However, this is something that could be a turning point in the negotiations for the Su-57E contract for India,” the Indian defense official said.

The Uttam radar could be ideal for the Su-57. Thus, Russia may look to integrate Indian radars instead of Russian ones into the new fighter jet as per New Delhi's requirements.

Currently, the Indian Air Force has not made a final decision on the desired Su-57 option.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/nga-dua-thoa-thuan-khong-the-choi-tu-ve-su-57-378808.html