Experts Suggest US F-35 as Only Viable 5th-Gen Option for India, Warn J-35 Jet Deal Could Worsen Pakistan's Economic Crisis

As stealth technology becomes increasingly critical in modern air warfare, India faces a crucial decision regarding its military aviation strategy. Aviation expert Andreas Rupprecht suggests that India may need to consider acquiring existing fifth-generation fighter jets rather than solely focusing on domestic development.

In this scenario, the American Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II emerges as the primary option, being one of the few readily available fifth-generation fighters on the international market.

The F-35 is renowned for its advanced stealth capabilities, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare features, making it a formidable choice for enhancing India's air combat capabilities.

However, acquiring such sophisticated technology comes with significant financial costs and necessitates complex diplomatic negotiations, given the sensitive nature of the technology and the political implications of a deal with the United States.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is strengthening its military capabilities through its strategic partnership with China. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, executive director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan-China Institute, told the South China Morning Post that Pakistan's acquisition of the J-35 stealth fighter is strategically aimed at maintaining a conventional balance of power and deterring potential threats in the region.

The J-35, China's latest fifth-generation fighter, represents a significant leap in Pakistan's air force capabilities, potentially altering the aerial dynamics in South Asia.

However, this acquisition presents challenges for Pakistan. Brian Hart, a fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, highlighted to the SCMP that Pakistan's economic situation could strain its ability to sustain these high-tech acquisitions. Integrating the J-35 also presents logistical, training, and operational readiness hurdles.

Pakistan will need specialized personnel, infrastructure to support the jets, and funding for ongoing maintenance, all of which could prove to be significant burdens.

The contrasting approaches of India and Pakistan reflect the broader regional tensions and arms race in South Asia. While India contemplates developing indigenous stealth technology or purchasing it from abroad, Pakistan's decision to procure the J-35 from China underscores its reliance on strategic alliances for military modernization.

The coming years will reveal how these contrasting strategies play out and their impact on the regional balance of power.

 

China's Fighter Jet Advancements Outpace India's Indigenous Programs as J-36 Debut Highlights Contrast with Tejas's Slow Timeline India Needs More Than HAL to Compete in Fighter Jet Race with China, Suggest Defence Analysts

[Pilgrim56]

Depending on the US is like shooting yourself in the head. Its a no brainer. The way we have burnt our fingers with the GE 404 AND 414 Jet Engines which the US has absolutely no intention of giving us..better to go wuth the SU 57 and screw these so called western experts who say otherwise

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

IAF should go with our own scheduled programs for Aircraft induction. All these armchair experts are just acting as lobbies for some people.

 

[PKPRS]

IAF should go with our own scheduled programs for Aircraft induction. All these armchair experts are just acting as lobbies for some people.

IAF would go with retired Mirages.

 

[MSN]

India is supposed to avoid hasty purchases from Russia or the US. We have already been stuck purchasing GE404 engines from the US, and our deal with the US has always remained suicidal.
Chinese fighters of any generation are not proven battleworthy or accepted by the world other than Pakistan and North Korea. JF17 already has significant quality issues because its Russian-origin engines are supplied through China, attracting major maintenance issues along with inferior Chinese avionics. Most 4G Chinese fighters have either old Russian engines or Chinese engines derived from reverse engineering of Russian origin.
So, India should not have immediate worries and should concentrate on Indigenous development.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

America knows our dilema and even though it worried about chinese stealth more than us.
It will manipulate india with conditions to sell the f-35. one would be to scrap the s-400 as it can counter the f-35 with data fusion of various radars.

 

[Ayyadurai Namasivayam]

The government isn't serious at all about these developments. The government says our defence exports grew 100%, 200%. But we are struggling to develop drones and cruise missiles. India creates history by becoming the only country in the world developing 4th-gen fighters: LCA Mk1A, LCA Mk2, and TEDBF. Our AMCA will enter production only by 2040. So if China or Pakistan uses 5th-gen or 6th-gen fighters, then we will give Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh and will say we will not buy any fighters from any other countries.

 

[Upendranath Awasthi]

India is supposed to avoid hasty purchases from Russia or the US. We have already been stuck purchasing GE404 engines from the US, and our deal with the US has always remained suicidal.
Chinese fighters of any generation are not proven battleworthy or accepted by the world other than Pakistan and North Korea. JF17 already has significant quality issues because its Russian-origin engines are supplied through China, attracting major maintenance issues along with inferior Chinese avionics. Most 4G Chinese fighters have either old Russian engines or Chinese engines derived from reverse engineering of Russian origin.
So, India should not have immediate worries and should concentrate on Indigenous development.

J 35 needs refueling after 600 miles so it is not as efficient as claimed. Pakistan and China cannot dare become aggressive with few squadrons of it. So no reason for panic.

 

[Anant]

America knows our dilema and even though it worried about chinese stealth more than us.
It will manipulate india with conditions to sell the f-35. one would be to scrap the s-400 as it can counter the f-35 with data fusion of various radars.

More than scrap the S-400, I have a feeling that if the US were to offer India the F-35, that would involve maintaining some level of geographic separation between the systems, and would involve a lot of other conditions.

 

[Sangram]

More than scrap the S-400, I have a feeling that if the US were to offer India the F-35, that would involve maintaining some level of geographic separation between the systems, and would involve a lot of other conditions.

Not gonna happen I have feeling india will buy some Su-57, and Focus on AMCA and Tejas MK2.

 

[Senapati]

American F35 and F22and Chines J35 are good stealth fighter jet.
Russian Su57 and Su75 are also equally good.
India'sfinal choice will depend on who will be a long term reliable partner in defense 'extent of technology transfer'and cost .

 

[Rinku Pandey]

IAF would go with retired Mirages.

Because GOi doesn't give money. What else Airforce can do except retired Mirages and Mig21? When IAF said it needed 126 Rafales, GOI got them 32+4. Recent statement from IAF chief said we require 114 MRFA, GOI is just bidding it's time till new IAF chief takes over.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

The government isn't serious at all about these developments. The government says our defence exports grew 100%, 200%. But we are struggling to develop drones and cruise missiles. India creates history by becoming the only country in the world developing 4th-gen fighters: LCA Mk1A, LCA Mk2, and TEDBF. Our AMCA will enter production only by 2040. So if China or Pakistan uses 5th-gen or 6th-gen fighters, then we will give Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh and will say we will not buy any fighters from any other countries.

Please be Vocal for Local. AMCA is the flagship project of Modiji and by 2035 it will fly and terrorise China and Pakistan as it is the best 5.5th gen fighter in the world.

 

[Danish]

India started the Tejas program in 1983 and delivered the first prototype in 2001.
Whereas the JF-17 project was started in 1998 and first prototype delivered in 2002.

 

[PKPRS]

Because GOi doesn't give money. What else Airforce can do except retired Mirages and Mig21? When IAF said it needed 126 Rafales, GOI got them 32+4. Recent statement from IAF chief said we require 114 MRFA, GOI is just bidding it's time till new IAF chief takes over.

GOI has set its sight on a different product or FGFA is still relevant and ongoing, who knows, buying only 36 Rafale’s or any foreign fighter jet in this quantity is a bad idea in the first place.

 

[Cookie monster]

USA will offer f35 n then probably will cry innocence by sabotaging wen india is involved in a conflict with china or Pakistan.

Impossible to trust the Americans.They will always ensure India doesn't have a smooth ride in technological advancement and unlike China who are a different kettle of fish, they can easily arm twist India.

 

[Cookie monster]

PMO shud declare AMCA as project of national importance and put more resources on the line and get it done within next five years by the time the term of this government ends.

Rope in top talent from wherever they can find,experienced or newbies....just get it done.

Surely we are not sooooo bad that we can't get things done when push comes to shove, surely?

 

[Dr]

India should be going for government to government deal for 4/5 squadron of SU, 57 aircrafts with Russia as F35 are not on offer & long list of pending orders will not allow India to procur it in coming 8/9 years if deal signed so forget 114 4th generation tender & should go for SU57 either manufactured in India or in Russia on fast track & if needed more Tejas MK1 or MK2 should be added & continue seriously with our 5.5 genration program

 

[desigandu]

More than scrap the S-400, I have a feeling that if the US were to offer India the F-35, that would involve maintaining some level of geographic separation between the systems, and would involve a lot of other conditions.

Yes lots of conditions and intrusive inspections and software/ hardware controls will come with F-35s! Question is whether we can live with them till AMCA comes or willing to risk Porkis also with J35s, till AMCA arrives!

I think India should get closer to US, get F-35s (say 50 odd) , agree to conditions, eat some humble pie but redouble domestic efforts and scrap MRFA (buy another 36 Rafales in fly away) to mitigate risks at least till 2035! Also buy fully into GCAP as an equity and development partner, massively fund and accelerate ghatak as is and potentially a long term unmanned/ manned stealth bomber/6th gen program say by 2040!

I did not mention Su57s given the geopolitical environment and their stealth capability and ability to deliver jets on time, which may also be the challenge with F35s and Rafales, but to a lesser extent!

 

[Hardik]

India should be going for government to government deal for 4/5 squadron of SU, 57 aircrafts with Russia as F35 are not on offer & long list of pending orders will not allow India to procur it in coming 8/9 years if deal signed so forget 114 4th generation tender & should go for SU57 either manufactured in India or in Russia on fast track & if needed more Tejas MK1 or MK2 should be added & continue seriously with our 5.5 genration program

The current prototype of su-57 won't help us much, we must wait for further upgradations of the jet, it would be a waste of money if we buy it now

 

[ianbrownuk]

India should be going for government to government deal for 4/5 squadron of SU, 57 aircrafts with Russia as F35 are not on offer & long list of pending orders will not allow India to procur it in coming 8/9 years if deal signed so forget 114 4th generation tender & should go for SU57 either manufactured in India or in Russia on fast track & if needed more Tejas MK1 or MK2 should be added & continue seriously with our 5.5 genration program

Hahaha, the SU57, the one thst Russia has only managed to produce 5 prototypes all with issues that means going into production, even if Russia could do that, would be problematic.

Russia is under sanctions. The Ukraine war would have to be long ended before the sanctions are lifted. The F35 is superior to anything in the air at present as the Carpet Baggers found out. India could ask to join the FCAS and buy as many as it can afford. But it won’t.

 

[Foxbat]

F35 is the only option for India? Is it a joke.....No way, it is not happening and the Indian bureaucracy is not interested either. When they are dragging their feet for more than ten years to make a firm decision on MMRCA and finally bought 36 Rafael just to appease the IAF. This time around the new urgent requirement for 114 MRFA to narrow down the gap in fighter squadrons hasn't moved the bureaucracy a bit is a testimony to their reluctance in spending. They are very focused and interested in waiting for miracles to happen with Tejas Mk1A, Mk2 and AMCA to fill in the gap. I just hope Indian bureaucracy will not regret for their waiting games betting on Mk1A, Mk2 and AMCA to happen soon to fill in the gap. First order of Mk1A has been plagued by numerous delays with uncertainties. Whereas our immediate adversaries are equipping themselves with much advanced fighters with huge numbers. I hope the bureaucracy will be able analyse the situation with great caution and emphasis on defence of the nation and themselves.

 

[rsingh]

Our indigenous tech capability is abysmal. We cannot complete with China who's R&D expenditure is 3.5,% of their GDP which is $18 trillion. Whereas our R&D expenditure is 0.7% of our GDP which is $3.5 trillion. We are behind by at least 50 years, and the gap will continue to widen. From 'wahan no koi ghus aaya hai' on 19.6.2020 to our CDS announcing on 20th Nov 2024 that the India-China border dispute was a result of differing understanding of maps and “we cannot really say which is correct and which is wrong” we are in prostrating mode before the PLA. The C word is not allowed to be mentioned in our Parliament. We don't use it in the QUAD. During the entire Modi trip to USin June 2023 the C word wasn't uttered, not in his address to the US Congress, not in the atlantean Indo-US Joint Statement of 22nd June 2023., not in the bilaterals. The Chinese know we don't have the will to confront their aggression. Our Govt is in deflection mode. It's only goal is to stay in power and it's focussed on ali and bajrangbali, mandir masjid survey, gai gobar gaumutr, macchli-mutton-mujra-mangalsutra and love jihad. What to talk of 6th Gen fighter acquisition or development, even 5th gen is not on its radar as it struggles on bended knees before the US to transfer the GE 414/404 engines for the 4th gen LCA. Not just that, our Govt doesn't have the funds for forces, as it competes with the Opposition for unrestricted distribution of revdis. In defense preparedness we are in free fall. Our only hope is a US China armed confrontation over Taiwan. It's not going to happen . Not anytime soon.

 

[Pravijay]

India should, buy 3 squadrons of F-35, 3 squadrons of SU-57 and three squadrons of Rafael fighters.
This would satisfy all the three, US, Russia and France., politically as also speed of delivery .
We must react immediately, as otherwise it will be too late.

 

[netram]

I think we should do nothing.
Aside from a bunch of us die hards nobody gives a shit about this. The only way Indians will learn about the necessity of competent administrative structures and effective planning and implementation, industrial espionage, technological absorption to create domestic technical base and sustained increase in r&d to advance forward from said foundational base is for the Chinese to wipe the floor with our faces including us losing a couple of our air assets in combat.
Existential dread is the only thing that can force the infuriatingly insufferable and jingoistic indian mind to think as if his life depends on industrial expansion, Advancement and technological modernization of industries. Because it does.
Failure is the only way we will learn.

 

[subrat beura]

Trump can allow sale of F35 to India to counter Chinese influence

 

[ANTONIO]

The thing with the US is that they do not sell the whole system of whatever weapons system they are selling, so I think other countries can have different choices in acquiring weapons wherein the full system is provided.