Negotiations between India and Russia over the Su-57E have accelerated into a two-phase proposal that pairs immediate operational needs with a longer-term Make-in-India pathway: New Delhi is reportedly considering an initial acquisition of roughly two squadrons (about 36–40 aircraft) delivered fly-away from Russia to plug near-term gaps, followed by licensed production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Nashik facilities to build additional squadrons domestically. Under the plan Moscow would provide significant technology transfer and support for local assembly and manufacturing, while India would progressively replace Russian subsystems with indigenous radars, avionics and mission systems to raise the localisation content. Discussions include estimates of producing between roughly 54 and 114 locally built aircraft in later phases, subject to agreement on transfer terms, investment, and timelines; Russian technical teams and delegations are reported to be assessing Nashik’s industrial capacity as talks continue. If agreed, the arrangement would mark one of India’s largest foreign fighter collaborations in years and be intended to accelerate India’s transition toward fifth-generation capabilities while supporting HAL’s production base.