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The F-35 in action in Aero India 2025, the largest air show in the region, in Bengaluru City
India is faced with a crucial choice to modernize its air force – but is an advanced American fighter plane the answer?
During his visit to Washington last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump, who announced that they “opened the way” so that India acquired the F-35, a mainly sold jet to allies and closed partners.
The F-35 is a “fifth generation” multi-rod hunting jet with advanced sensors, combat systems managed by AI and transparent data sharing capacities. Built to escape the radar, it is the most sophisticated jet in the sky – but 80mmm pop, also one of the most expensive. (Stealth is a key characteristic of a “fifth generation” fighter.)
Many believe that with its hunter squadrons by decreasing and the military growth of China, India faces a choice with high issues: folies on the F-35 of the United States of the United States or strengthening defense ties with Russia thanks to the local production of its most advanced furtive fighter Jet SUKHOI SU-57.
Experts believe that the reality is more nuanced, with the American “Dogfight” of Russia in large part a media threshing – more recently fueled by the appearance of the two jets during the largest Aerial program in Asia, Aero India, in the city of southern Bangalore last month.
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The fifth Russian generation fighter Sukhoi Su-57 also played the Indian Air Show
Trump’s F-35 offer seems more “symbolic” than practical, motivated by its thrust to sell American weapons, according to Ashley J Tentlis, main member of the Endowment for International Peace Carnegie.
The integration of a “fifth generation” plane in the plans of Air Force India (IAF) – centered on the combat combat aircraft (AMCA) and more gusts – would be difficult, in particular without co -production rights. Being developed by the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), AMCA is the own stealth fighter of India.
“It is unlikely that the F -35 is proposed for co -production to India – any acquisition will probably be a simple sale. It is unlikely, among other things, to sit well with the accent put by Modi on manufacturing in India and the surveillance of India will probably not be the most appreciated by India,” said.
The challenges of India with the F -35 are its high costs, its high maintenance and operating problems – the availability of the jet is approximately 51% for the US Air Force, according to security expert Stephen Bryen, author of a substitution, weapon and strategy column. “The question is whether India is ready to invest billions of rupees in the F-35, knowing that it could better buy the Russian jet.”
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Rafale Fighters of the Indian Air Force in the Indian Air Show in 2021
But many reject the SU-57 as a real competitor, noting that India has left the program for a decade to co-produce the jet with Russia in 2018 on litigation on technology transfer, cost sharing and specifications.
Admittedly, the air forces of India are aging and lacking fighter planes.
It operates 31 combatant and combat squadrons – mainly Russian planes and the Soviet era – well below 42 sanctioned. A key challenge is to find a long-term replacement of the Sukhoi-30, the versatile IAF battlestock from Russia.
Christopher Clary, political scientist at the University of Albany, recently underlined the disturbing data of the military balance of the ISS for India: between 2014 and 2024, China added 435 hunters and ground attack planes, Pakistan won 31 years, while the fleet of India decreased in 151.
The expansion planned by India’s fighter planes is largely local, with plans to acquire more than 500 jets, mainly light combat aircraft.
Orders of 83 Tejas Mark 1A – an agile multitirole fighter – are confirmed, with 97 others should be ordered shortly. Meanwhile, the more heavy and more advanced brand 2 is developing. The local furtive jet remains at least a decade.
India also plans to buy 114 Multiroles fighter planes as part of the $ 20 billion multi -roll hunting aircraft program (MRFA) of $ 20 billion, which requires foreign jets to India as part of a technology transfer – its largest obstacle.
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The local tejas fighter of India is preparing to take off at the Salon of India Air Show
Eassembled since 2019, the Indian government has examined a transparent and non -controversial supply process after being criticized for the acquisition of 36 gusts in a government agreement. Five jets are in the running, Rafale leading because he is already in service with the IAF.
Experts say that the modernization of the Air Force of India faces three key obstacles: funding, delays and dependence on foreign jets.
Defense expenses have decreased in real terms. The Fight Fight Jets program risks a spell. While India gives priority to the house, DRDO’s delays force foreign purchases, creating a repetitive cycle. Breaking it requires delivering a local jet capable in time. Deliveries are also delayed due to the preservation of the F-404 engines of General Electric for jets.
A key challenge is the inadequacy between the vision of the Ministry of Defense and the needs of the IAF, explains Rahul Bhatia, analyst of the Eurasia Group, a consulting company in geopolitical risks.
The Tejas Mark 1 was confronted with early air force skepticism, leading to upgrades like Mark 1A and Mark 2. “But the development cycles of several decades frustrate the armed forces, especially since their requirements continue to evolve as the more recent technologies become available, which contributes in turn to new delays.”
Even the head of the Indian Air Force, Ap Singh, did not hide his frustration in the face of delays.
“I can make a wish that I will not buy anything from the outside or I will expect everything that is developed in India, but it may not be possible if it does not come at this rate (on time),” said Air Marshall Singh recently to a seminar.
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Sukhoi fighters are the backbone of India Air Force
“For the moment, we all know that we are very badly in progress with regard to the figures (fighters). And the figures that have been promised are also a little slow. So there will be a requirement to get something that can quickly fulfill these gaps,” he said, referring to the difference in Tejas Mark 1a, which had to start in February but which has not yet started.
India’s clear priority is a local stealth fighter, with more than $ 1 billion already engaged in its development. “A foreign furtive jet would only be taken into account if changes in perception of the immediate threat of India,” said Bhatia. China has two so-called stealthy fighters-J-20 and J-35-but they are probably not American standards.
Most experts believe that India will choose neither American nor Russian fighters. “In the short term, as we can see in past conflicts, emergency purchases can fill the gaps. The medium -term objective is co -production, but the long game is clear – building its own,” explains Mr. Bhatia.
For India, the future of air power is not only to buy jets – it is a question of building them, ideally with a strong Western partner. But for this vision to succeed, India must deliver its local fighters in time.
