Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump offered to sell the F-35 stealth fighter jet to India, while Russia has also put forth an enticing deal on the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet, offering to sell the 5th-gen fighter to India for the Indian Air Force (IAF), as well as an assured transfer of technology.
Indian Air Force (IAF): India has increased its efforts to acquire a fleet of fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, and is currently weighing its options to choose between the US-made F-35A and the Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets, with both potential purchases having their own pros and cons, which we have discussed separately.
Why India needs stealth fighter jets?
While the Indian Air Force (IAF) boasts an impressive fleet of combat-tested warplanes, the need for 5th-generation fighter jets cannot be underestimated, especially in wake of the growing aerial superiority of rival nations like Pakistan and China.
The 5th-generation combat jets are incorporate cutting-edge stealth technology such as radar-absorbent materials or RAMs, which helps them avoid detection by enemy radar systems.
What are RAMs?
RAMs or radar-absorbent materials are materials with high electric conductivity, and can therefore be used to employ stealth methods like programmable reflection, multiple internal reflection and light scattering to prevent aircraft from being detected by radar, making them practically invisible to enemy defences.
Stealth technology, also known as Low Observable Technology (LO) is used to reduce the detection on an aircraft by radar, infrared, sonar and other methods, and while it does make the completely invisible, it does make the detection by radars highly difficult and cumbersome.
How stealth tech works?
Stealth technology helps to shield an object from electromagnetic interference, and with the introduction of nanotechnology, the technology has become more advanced and potent.
Nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are used for RAMs and EM shielding materials. These are designed to have excellent electromagnetic, mechanical and chemical properties, that help in reducing radio wave radiation, and are beneficial in both military and civilian sectors.
The technology helps to minimize the power reflected back to the detecting radar by using special materials that can absorb radar waves, which reduces the reflected energy.
Additionally, the stealth fighter jets and missiles feature an angular design, the sharp edges help scatter the radar waves, reducing the object’s radar cross-section. On top of that, advanced engine designs and exhaust systems weaken the heat and infrared signals of stealth platforms.
What makes stealth fighters lethal?
Stealth technology greatly reduces the detectability of military platforms, including fighter jets and combat drone, allowing them to stealthily venture into enemy territory and carry out covert operations without being detected.
Unlike the conventional round shape of regular aircraft, stealth combat jets feature a completely flat surface design and sharp edges, thus when an radar signal hits, its reflected at an angle. Additionally, the surfaces of stealth aircraft can be treated in such a way that they can absorb radar energy.
World’s first stealth fighter jet
Notably, US’ Lockheed Corporation (now part of Lockheed Martin Corporation), had developed the world’s first stealth fighter, the F-117, for the US Air Force, 43 years ago. A single-seat, twin-engine jet fighter-bomber, the F-117 was designed to evade radar and other detection methods.
While several prototypes crashed during testing, the first successful version was inducted into the US Air Force in 1982, and was reportedly used during several wars, including in Iraq and other parts of Middle East.
The F-117 was also reportedly used in the mission to eliminate notorious al-Qaeda chief Osama bib Laden, who was killed by a team of US Navy SEALS in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011.
India’s indigenous fighter jet program
While India has its own 5th-generation stealth fighter jet program, only three nations, viz, US, Russia and China, currently possess the technology. Recently, an Indian-made prototype of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), was displayed at Aero India 2025.
Experts estimate that the indigenous fighter jet will see its first flight in the next 2-3 years, and the fifth-generation multirole fighter jet for the IAF and the Indian Navy will also include sixth-generation technology, and will replace the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Rafale in the IAF and HAL Naval Tejas and MiG-29 in the Navy.
The AMCA is expected to be inducted in the IAF fleet by 2028.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump offered to sell the F-35 stealth fighter jet to India, while Russia has also put forth an enticing deal on the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet, offering to sell the 5th-gen fighter to India as well as an assured transfer of technology, something which the US is unwilling to do.
