At the Dubai Airshow 2025, Russia’s Rostec State Corporation announced a renewed push for the joint development of a twin-seat variant of the Su-57, signaling a revival of the Indo-Russian FGFA program that had stalled in 2018. This proposal, which emphasizes full technology transfer and local production capabilities, aligns with India’s urgent need for modern stealth fighters amidst increasing threats from China’s J-20 aircraft. The Su-57E, which is Moscow’s export variant, promises to enable Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to leverage advanced techniques for indigenization, further enhancing India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Central to this deal is the inclusion of the advanced 177S engine, which is designed to improve fuel efficiency and operational availability, thereby meeting the Indian Air Force’s requirements for transitioning from fourth to fifth-generation capabilities. This development underscores the enduring strategic partnership between India and Russia, as both nations aim to bolster India’s defense capabilities in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.