New Delhi: India’s long effort to gain control over modern fighter propulsion has moved forward with Russia approving the full technology transfer of the Su-57E’s Izdeliye 177S engine for production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Koraput, Odisha. The decision signals an important milestone in New Delhi’s military aviation journey and changes the airpower landscape across the Indo-Pacific.
Following President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to New Delhi, Moscow’s clearance has opened the way for the HAL to build one of the world’s most sophisticated fighter engines on Indian soil. With this step, India joins the United States, Russia and China as the only countries capable of manufacturing fifth-generation-class propulsion without depending on overseas assembly.
Placed between the trusted AL-41F1S family and Russia’s upcoming Izdeliye 30, the Izdeliye 177S will become the first fifth-generation turbofan to be built in India. Producing this engine offers more than a technical edge, it brings India closer to controlling a guarded technology that has influenced the balance of modern air combat for decades.
The transfer package is designed to expand the share of Indian manufacturing, rising from about 54 percent in the early years to more than 80 percent within a decade. This plan strengthens the Indian Air Force by reducing exposure to external supply interruptions and embeds India into the global ecosystem of advanced alloys, high-temperature materials and precision aero-engine production.
During the post-summit consultations, one statement captured the larger purpose behind the deal, “This is not just about engines. It is about sovereignty in the skies.”
The thought reflects India’s long-held belief that a nation becomes truly independent in aerospace only when it masters propulsion.
Known for decades as the centre of the AL-31FP engine programme, the HAL Koraput now prepares for a generational leap. Production of the 177S is expected to begin between 2029 and 2030, and it will be supported by infrastructure upgrades worth around Rs 2,800 crore or roughly US$336 million (RM1.58 billion).
Why Russia Is Opening Its Engine Vault Now
Russia’s decision to transfer technology it once guarded with extreme caution comes at a moment when its defence industry is adapting to Western sanctions and evolving international demand. In this environment, India emerges as a long-term industrial partner whose manufacturing strength can help stabilise production and sustain Russian platforms.
The new agreement mirrors the level of access India had once expected during the early FGFA programme. About US$295 million (RM1.39 billion) had been invested before India exited due to limited access to hot-section metallurgy, coatings and source codes. The phrase “unmet expectations on source codes and metallurgy” stayed with policymakers for years.
With sanctions placing pressure on Russia’s supply chain, India’s industrial depth has gained added weight. Powered initially by the Izdeliye 177S, the export-focussed Su-57E has now become central to Moscow’s effort to build dependable partners beyond NATO-aligned markets.
This time, Russian officials conveyed an unusual level of openness. One reassurance summed up the mood across the negotiating table, “India gets the full playbook, no black boxes this time.”
This includes casting processes, turbine blade metallurgy, plasma coatings and FADEC system architecture (domains traditionally guarded with complete secrecy).
The political approval from both countries reflects a mutual understanding that long-term operational freedom depends on owning essential technologies, not on managing uncertain supply lines.
What India Will Receive Under The 177S Transfer
The technology transfer reaches far beyond than previous arrangements. India will receive full production drawings, complete process documentation, materials data and validated testing methods for the entire lifecycle of a fifth-generation turbofan.
Important elements of the deal include single-crystal turbine blade casting, thermal barrier coatings that can withstand temperatures close to 1,800°C, FADEC digital engine control systems with a hydromechanical backup and the parameters required for vacuum induction melting and isothermal forging.
Facility audits will begin in early 2026, followed by prototype integration in 2028 and serial production in 2029. The engine will bring immediate gains to the Su-30MKI fleet as well, since it can be fitted with minimal modifications while offering 15-18 percent higher thrust and longer maintenance intervals.
Weapons integration has already been approved. The engine will support Astra BVRAAM variants, BrahMos-NG and several indigenous anti-radiation systems, opening the way for upgrades under the “Super Sukhoi” plan.
How The Izdeliye 177S Enhances Air Combat Power
The Izdeliye 177S stands among the most mature non-Western fifth-generation engine solutions available today. It produces about 14,500 kgf of thrust in afterburner and around 9,000 kgf in dry power, allowing sustained supercruise close to Mach 1.6.
Its three-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles will bring a high degree of agility during close-combat manoeuvres. The serrated exhaust design will lower infrared and radar visibility while maintaining manoeuvrability. With a service life of roughly 6,000 hours and overhaul cycles of around 1,500 hours, the engine will support higher sortie rates and reduce maintenance demands.
While Western engines like the F135 operate under restrictive export conditions, the 177S will give India greater flexibility and room to integrate indigenous sensors and weapons. For Indian programmes such as the Su-57E acquisition and AMCA development, this freedom will play a vital role.
Its high-temperature metallurgy and thrust-vectoring features will also provide valuable insights for India’s future engine projects, helping reduce technology gaps across the region.
What This Means For India’s Aerospace Future
India’s ability to produce fifth-generation engines carries strategic influence that touches every corner of its aerospace roadmap. The Air Force anticipates inducting 80 to 100 Su-57E fighters as a bridge until AMCA enters service in the mid-2030s. Both aircraft will benefit directly from the 177S programme.
The planned Su-30MKI upgrades, supported by higher thrust, longer life engines and modern weapons, will strengthen India’s air superiority fleet at a time when regional air forces are expanding their own capabilities.
For industry, Koraput’s rise as a fifth-generation engine hub will encourage new research partnerships, advanced metallurgy labs and a supply network that supports high-value domestic manufacturing.
Geopolitically, the arrangement will widen India’s defence options and reduce the impact of unpredictable sanctions or external pressure. Over time, India could also develop into a servicing and upgrade centre for Sukhoi engines across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Most importantly, India’s entry into the select group of nations capable of building fifth-generation fighter engines signals a fresh chapter in its aerospace story. It represents a transformation from being known primarily as a buyer to being recognised as a nation deciding its own technological destiny.
When the first Izdeliye 177S engines will emerge from the HAL, Koraput, India will not only be producing machinery, it will be demonstrating that complex, high-temperature and high-precision propulsion systems can be mastered at home. This achievement will change Indian airpower for decades to come.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: ZEE News
