Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 18:29 IST The IAF is examining options to induct 5th-gen fighters, and two global contenders dominate the conversation – Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 and America’s F-35 Lightning II F-35 vs Su-57: A comparison of stealth, strategy and the geopolitical hurdles shaping India’s fifth-generation fighter choice. The character of warfare in the 21st century has undergone a dramatic transformation. As nations race to deploy ultra-modern air defence systems capable of detecting and destroying hostile aircraft at long ranges, parallel efforts are underway to outsmart those very shields. At the heart of this contest lies fifth-generation stealth fighter technology, a capability currently possessed by only a handful of countries. The United States, Russia and China have operational 5th-gen fighter jets designed to penetrate advanced air defence networks. India, however, does not yet field such an aircraft. The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently operates 4th and 4.5-gen fighters but has no 5th-gen platform in its inventory. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and amid a rapidly shifting regional security landscape, the absence of stealth aircraft …