Last week, advanced fighter jets from Russia and the U.S. were shown at the Aero India event in Bengaluru. Soon after, U.S. President Donald Trump, while standing next to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, D.C., announced that the U.S. would sell more military equipment to India worth “many billions of dollars.” He also mentioned that India could eventually get F-35 stealth fighter jets.

This has started discussions about whether India will buy the F-35s for its Air Force. However, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri explained that India follows a proper process for buying military equipment, and the government has not yet started this process for the F-35 jets. The main concern is how this decision might affect India's plans to build its own fighter jets, which are important for the country to become self-reliant in defence.

What is the F-35 fighter jet?

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is an advanced, multi-role fighter jet designed for the U.S. military and allied nations. It is expected to remain in service until the 2080s. The F-35 comes in three versions:

  • F-35A: A conventional take-off and landing variant used by the Air Force.
  • F-35B: A short take-off and vertical landing variant used by the Marine Corps.
  • F-35C: A carrier-based variant used by the Navy and Marine Corps.

The F-35 fighter jet program involves seven international partners and has been sold to 10 other countries. A 2024 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) stated that more than 990 F-35 jets have been delivered worldwide.

However, the programme has faced many delays and has gone over budget. The report said, “The programme is also more than a decade delayed and has cost $209 billion more than originally planned.” It also mentioned that none of the different F-35 models are performing as expected in terms of availability, meaning they are not always ready for use when needed.

Challenges in bringing the F-35 to India

If India decides to buy F-35 fighter jets, there will be some challenges. The first challenge is making the F-35 work smoothly with India’s military system. Right now, India uses aircraft and weapons from different countries like Russia, France, and Israel. Adding the F-35, which is an American jet, may require changes to India's defence setup.

Another big issue is that the F-35 has only one seat, while the Indian Air Force (IAF) prefers fighter jets with two seats for many operations. India faced a similar problem earlier when it was working on a fighter jet project with Russia. That project was cancelled because the Russian jet had only one seat, and making a two-seat version was too expensive.

Additionally, the U.S. has strict rules on the use and maintenance of its military equipment. India has never operated a U.S.-made fighter jet before, and using the F-35 would require following U.S. regulations closely. This could limit India’s ability to modify or upgrade the jets independently.

Impact on India’s fighter jet programmes

India is working on building its own fighter jets so that it does not have to rely on aircraft from other countries.

One of these projects is the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A. India has already ordered 83 of these jets, and 97 more will be added soon. However, production has been delayed because the jet’s engine supply was slow. The LCA-Mk1A uses the General Electric (GE) F404 engine, but the delivery of these engines was delayed by two years. Now, GE has fixed its supply issues, and the engines are expected to arrive from March onwards.

India is also making a more advanced version called the LCA-Mk2. The first test model should be ready by the end of this year, and its first flight is planned for early 2026.

In addition to these, India is working on its own Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), known as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). This jet is expected to be ready for use by 2034-35.

Apart from these indigenous projects, India is also looking to buy 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) from foreign manufacturers, which will be produced in India under a license agreement.

Will India accept the F-35 offer?

If India decides to buy F-35s, it will have to carefully consider how these jets fit into its future air force plans. The F-35 is the most advanced fighter jet in the U.S. arsenal, and acquiring it would significantly enhance India’s airpower. However, it would also mean dealing with strict U.S. regulations and adapting India’s existing military setup to work with American technology.

“The decision must ensure that indigenous programmes are shielded and prioritise their timely realisation,” an official said anonymously, expressing a concern shared by many experts. “That is the key concern.”

Right now, India has not officially decided to buy the F-35 fighter jets.

Before making a final decision, the government will have to carefully think about both the advantages and the challenges of buying these jets. As India continues to improve its Air Force, it must find the right balance between buying aircraft from other countries and developing its own fighter jets. This will be an important challenge for the future.

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