Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while speaking in an interview with News18 on November 6, 2025, refrained from confirming India’s acquisition of Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighter jets. During this interaction, he highlighted ongoing talks about manufacturing the Su-57 in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative but chose to focus on India’s broader commitment to self-reliance in defense production. Singh emphasized that indigenous manufacturing and reducing dependency on foreign suppliers remain central to India’s defense strategy. This approach aligns with recent government directives to boost domestic defense manufacturing capabilities and technology development. The Defence Minister also mentioned efforts to build fighter engines in India within a year and praised successful indigenous systems like the BrahMos missile demonstrated in recent military operations. The Su-57 deal talks reflect India’s strategic plan to balance acquiring advanced technology with nurturing its domestic defense industry, avoiding direct reliance on imports while preparing to meet future air combat requirements. Rajnath Singh made these remarks during the interview with prominent Indian media ahead of discussions in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), reinforcing India’s focus on Atmanirbharta in defense.