Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Sukhoi/HAL FGFA
The Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) was conceived in the early 2010s as a joint Indo‑Russian effort to develop a stealth, multirole combat jet for the Indian Air Force. The program built on the experience of Russia’s Sukhoi Su‑57 and leveraged Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s production facilities, avionics expertise, and indigenous systems. Although the partnership was eventually halted in 2020 due to cost disagreements and differing technical requirements, the FGFA project left a lasting imprint on India’s aerospace strategy. Key features projected for the aircraft included an all‑composite airframe with low observable shaping, thrust‑vectoring engines delivering super‑cruise capability, advanced sensor‑fusion fused into a glass cockpit, and a modular weapons bay capable of carrying a mix of air‑to‑air, air‑to‑ground and electronic‑warfare payloads. Indigenous developments such as the Uttam AESA radar, DRDO‑designed electronic warfare suite, and a network‑centric data link were slated to integrate with the Russian core. The FGFA represented India’s ambition to acquire a fifth‑generation platform without full reliance on foreign imports, fostering domestic research, supply‑chain growth, and a strategic stepping stone toward future indigenous stealth fighters. The program also spurred research agreements, training exchanges, and laid the groundwork for the subsequent AMCA project, underscoring its enduring influence on India’s quest for self‑reliant fighter capabilities.
