F-35 for India? Why Trump’s fifth-generation fighter jet offer requires careful evaluation

India will have to carefully evaluate US President Donald Trump’s offer of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets. While the Indian Air Force (IAF) would be eager to acquire them, especially given the China factor, the decision is complex. A TOI report by Rajat Pandit explains the details. Meanwhile, India and the US are moving forward with the purchase of six more P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft and the joint production of Stryker armoured vehicles and Javelin anti-tank missiles this year, according to TOI.

India-US Defence Partnership Strengthens

The defence relationship between India and the US is growing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump have pledged to increase military cooperation across air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace. They also plan to launch the ‘Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA)’, streamline defence trade, and sign a new 10-year defence partnership agreement to replace the one signed in 2015.

But as Rajat Pandit highlights in his TOI report, the biggest takeaway was the F-35 sales pitch. This jet is usually sold only to NATO countries and close allies. At this stage, it is just a proposal, and the formal process has not yet begun. However, India will have to navigate Trump’s strong push for the deal, given his well-known transactional approach to global politics.

“Starting this year, we will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We are also paving the way to ultimately provide F-35 stealth fighters,” Trump said. The joint statement also mentioned that the US is reviewing its policy on releasing fifth-generation fighters and undersea systems to India.

Pros and Cons of Buying F-35s

A senior official told TOI that acquiring the F-35 could pull India deeper into the US’s sphere of influence, potentially affecting its strategic independence. “Why do you think successive Indian governments over the years have acquired Russian, French, and other fighters but never American ones?” the official asked.

If India does decide to pursue the F-35 deal, multiple factors must be considered, including cost, technology access, life-cycle expenses, and maintenance. Additionally, India's own fifth-generation fighter project, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), should not be negatively impacted. The government cleared Rs 15,000 crore for its development last year, but the project is still at least a decade away from production.

Currently, operational fifth-generation fighter jets include the American F-35 Lightning-II and F/A-22 Raptor, China’s Chengdu J-20, and Russia’s Sukhoi-57. China has stationed J-20s near India’s borders and is planning to supply a variant to Pakistan soon. It also recently tested two new sixth-generation fighter prototypes.

The IAF is struggling with just 30 fighter squadrons, while it is authorised to have 42.5. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) continues to face challenges in producing even fourth-generation Tejas jets. “With AMCA still at least 10-12 years away from production, the IAF will obviously be deeply interested in getting two to three squadrons (36 to 54 jets) of F-35s in the interim. If you need deterrence to prevent wars, you obviously need capabilities,” another official told TOI.

F-35 in India’s Fighter Jet Plans?

The F-35 could also be considered for the IAF’s long-delayed project for 114 new multi-role fighter aircraft, which aims to build jets in India with foreign collaboration at an estimated Rs 1.25 lakh crore. Other contenders for this project include the French Rafale, Russian Sukhoi-57, Swedish Gripen-E, Eurofighter Typhoon, and the American F-15EX.

However, one major hurdle remains, the Russian S-400 air defence system, which India is in the process of inducting under a $5.43 billion deal signed in 2018. The US is strongly opposed to any country operating both the F-35 and the S-400, as the latter’s radars could track and potentially compromise the stealth fighter’s characteristics and electronic warfare capabilities. Resolving this issue will be a key challenge for India before moving forward with the F-35 deal.

Inputs from TOI