India Defence: Why the F 35 for the IAF Keeps Popping Up & is Rejected?
The F 35 Lightning II is the front line fifth generation fighter aircraft which is the aspiration of any modern air force the world over.
Participation of the F 35 in the recent Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 in India has once again led to media interest in possible acquisition of the lead US fighter jet by India. Four factors that denote the challenges in the Indian Air Force [IAF] acquisition of the frontline factors are outlined herein-
The Debate over F 35and Fifth Generation Fighter for the IAF
But first the ongoing discussion on F 35 and fifth generation fighter for the IAF.
Indian Air Force [IAF] Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh addressing the media ahead of the 94th Air Force Day, on October 8 remarked on Pakistan acquiring China’s fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter jet. Expressing come concern Air Chief Marshal Singh however indicated that the situation was manageable for the IAF and said, “Is it a no-go situation? I wouldn’t agree with that. We possess the necessary capabilities… it is not just about a single platform, but about how it is integrated into the entire system.” “Pakistan has possessed other platforms in the past, yet they haven’t been able to achieve anything significant with them during Operation Sindoor. Similarly, if we effectively integrate the platforms we are purchasing and inducting, we should be able to counter this threat — at least for the time being, until they fully integrate these new aircraft into their own systems,” he added.
The IAF will have a mix of LCA Tejas Mk 1A, LCA Mk 2, the French Rafales and the indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet — Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) said Singh and called for an alternative case of a delay in the AMCA programme.
He emphasised the need to consider the need for a fifth-generation aircraft “if our adversaries are getting a fifth-generation aircraft,” and while Su 57 is one option no decision has so far been taken on the same.
In this context and with participation of the F 35 during Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, the issue of the American fighter jet once again popped up. United States has made no official offer for F-35 fighter jet, Indian Air Force chief AP Singh said and light heartedly remarked, “I was telling the PACAF commander [sitting at the table] that your people don't even let us go near the aircraft. And you talk about selling it to us."
F 35 Pitch for the IAF
Significantly the F 35 has been fielded by the US Air Force in Aero India air shows in at least past two occasions in 2023 and 2025 and is also likely to feature in the forthcoming show in 2027 in Bengaluru. While this cannot be seen as a proposal for the F 35, the US interest in demonstrating the capability is obvious.
In fact way back in 2011, the US Department of Defence as known then had informed the US Congress that it was prepared to offer the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) — the F-35 `Lightning-II' — to India against the backdrop of US F/A-18 `Super Hornets' and F-16 `Falcons' failing to pass muster in the technical evaluation stage in the Indian Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft a 4.5 generation fighter [MMRCA] competition.
India was then continuing with the project of co-developing a 5th-Gen fighter, based on the Russian Sukhoi T-50 prototype, with New Delhi and Moscow inking a $295-million preliminary design contract (PDC) in December 2010. Thus, the F 35 was not in the running. The agreement with Russia has since been terminated.
The India-US Joint Statement following the meeting of Prime Minister with U.S. President Donald Trump on 13th February 2025 mentions that the U.S. will undertake a review of its policy on releasing fifth generation fighters (such as the F-35) and undersea systems to India as per a Ministry of External Affairs Statement in response to a parliamentary question in August 2025. But no formal discussions have been held as yet on this issue said the Statement.
Multiple Factors Restricting F 35 for IAF
There are multiple factors that denote that the F 35 is unlikely to be seen as a serious candidate for India’s fifth generation fighter.
Firstly, the fighter is prohibitively costly even at the basic level. Secondly the current production line and orders from multiple countries India is unlikely to get the first aircraft in the next five years or more.
Then there are issues of sovereignty as India will seek independent maintenance infrastructure, access to source codes, and the freedom to integrate indigenous weapons—such as the Astra air-to-air missile and the BrahMos cruise missile which is not acceptable to the United States as a policy.
The F-35 programme, is also tied to US-controlled logistics and data ecosystem known as ALIS (Autonomic Logistics Information System), and successor ODIN (Operational Data Integrated Network) — a faster, cloud‑native, user‑centric sustainment system designed to reduce workload and improve readiness. This severely restricts operational independence for India and will therefore be unacceptable.
Finally as India's existing inventory heavily features Russian platforms, cross-operating them alongside a tightly guarded American data network presents insurmountable security and integration concerns for Washington.
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