Is US Considering to Sell F-35 Fighter Jets to India to Replace MRFA Program?

A recent National Interest report has sparked fresh discussions about the possibility of India acquiring the F-35A fighter jet from the United States, potentially replacing its ongoing Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender.

The impressive display of F-35s at last year's Aero India airshow, coupled with China's increasing assertiveness, has fueled debates on the potential strategic benefits of integrating the F-35 into India's air force. The F-35's stealth technology and advanced capabilities are particularly attractive to India, as it seeks to modernize its military and counter threats from China and Pakistan.

However, acquiring the F-35 would represent a significant shift for India, which has traditionally relied on Russia for its military equipment. India's historical dependence on Russia and its recent neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict raise questions about the feasibility of an F-35 deal.

Additionally, the Indian Air Force (IAF) appears to be prioritizing the development of its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, further complicating the potential acquisition of the F-35.

While the F-35 offers an enticing solution for India's air defence needs, several obstacles stand in the way of its acquisition. These include geopolitical complexities, India's longstanding ties with Russia, and the IAF's focus on developing its own fifth-generation fighter.

The future of India's fighter jet program remains uncertain, with the F-35 representing a promising but challenging option. As India continues to navigate its complex geopolitical landscape and modernize its military, the decision to acquire the F-35 will undoubtedly be a crucial one.

 

[sanket]

US may offer F-35 in MRFA since loosing F-18 to Rafale-M in Naval Tender, US may b thinking all 3 may fall short in Tech Parameters req in MRFA . This is only hope for US to win MRFA. On other hand India may purchase Su-57 2 or 3 sqadron . chances of winning Rafale in MRFA are too high .

 

[R. Singh]

IF USA offer F-35A , India must consider India specific F-35A under MRFA this will help AMCA roll out well in time !

 

[Bharat007]

India face so many roadblocks in acquiring this...

• Limited Fund
• Billion $ to fix Compatibility issues
• Might annoy Ruskis, our traditional partner.
• S-400

US will never sell such high tech machines without asking India to make substantial concession. Also, it will be very difficult for India to obtain and operate without sacrificing geo-political neutrality. We ought to remember that US has problems with S-400 and F-35 playing & sleeping in same room. Ditching S400 to accomodate F-35 will be clear disregard for Indo-Russo relations.

 

[Harsh]

Ain't happening!

Neither has India asked for it, nor has US offered it. Rest is all rumor fodder for arm chair specialists.

 

[Sunny]

In the unlikely event if the F-35 is offered we should try for the F-35I Adir variant ordered by Israeli Air Force. It's the only variant independent of being linked to servers in US so as to keep it's operations unknown to anyone else. Just to explain what I mentioned above all other operators of F-35 need to update mission data before the aircraft flies and this data is linked to servers in US, potentially giving the US prior update of any operations by the user airforce.

 

[Kira]

Ain't happening!

Neither has India asked for it, nor has US offered it. Rest is all rumor fodder for arm chair specialists.

Well put,although this may change if the J-20 is actually operationally deployed in numbers by PRC in border regions surrounding India or if in near future PAF opts for the J-31 and actually is able to procure it,then India may be forced to buy the F-35 if not for anything other than political/deterrence reasons.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

It's a massive headache we don't need.

 

[Tls Mani]

If its offered can the price be affordable? What if after payment Sanctions come to play for spare parts servicing etc.May turn out to be a double edged sword

 

[Chand Ashok]

Acquisition of F-35 will be counterproductive since that will present give leverage to Pentagon to severely change its Geo political status from neutrality to severe it's toes with Russia. Secondly this will also embolden Dalal lobby to jeopardize AMCA program.
Globally It is well known fact in strategic community that Chinese J-20 lags in stealth capabilities & can best be considered as 4++ Gen fighter. Hence India must go for Rafael in MMRCA-2 to take out J-20s. However India can go for Condition of upgradation of these F-4 variants to F-5 variant once Dassault finalize the final configuration after successful user trials by French airforce.

 

[Anand S Jha]

US has a bomb that bombs US is called : Sanctions

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

Americans lost the deal by interfering in Indian Elections and protecting anti I India Sikh terrorists to Tame Indian Leadership . Unless Americans learn to behave as equals the State and defense depts have to shed their anti India bias .Whilst common training amongst the special forces , army navy , airforce builds good will and trade expands the CIA and host of American agencies have to give up on cold war games , compromising Indian spies and create genuine goodwill by training , transfer of technology without putting restrictions . The embrace will be complete when America agrees to transfer nuclear technology, 5th generation reactors for aircraft carriers, SSNS and SSBNS, EMALS and reprocessing technology with no hold bar of any transfer of cutting edge technology transfers All at friendship prices and reduced rates to pay for the follies of arming Pakistan , china in 60s, 70s80sand 90s.The Indian exports and American exports must be targeted for over 500 Billion a year each year an increase of 5times the current trade within next 3-5 years. F-35 C, F-35B for navies carriers and LPH /LPD planned and f-35 A for IAF with Indian companies involved in supply chains and construction of the aircraft and its engines to reduce the cost from 80 $ million to less than 60 million per aircraft can then be considered .

 

[Ranjeet Singh]

Don't kill MRFA deal buy and make F-15EX-II under MRFA and buy 40 India specific F-35A and 44+ Rafale F-5 with MUT through G2G route to make IAF strong ! AMCA is at least 11-12 years away from now !

 

[Akshat]

In the unlikely event if the F-35 is offered we should try for the F-35I Adir variant ordered by Israeli Air Force. It's the only variant independent of being linked to servers in US so as to keep it's operations unknown to anyone else. Just to explain what I mentioned above all other operators of F-35 need to update mission data before the aircraft flies and this data is linked to servers in US, potentially giving the US prior update of any operations by the user airforce.

It's not. I recently read a report which said that F35s need a daily activation code. The only 2 countries which can generate these codes are US and UK (for British planes only). So the planes can be rendered unoperational overnight. Of course, these things are quite secretive so I won't vouch for the authenticity of the report.

 

[desigandu]

I am all for AMCA but know that AMCAs even Mk1s will not fly in large numbers before 2035, that leaves a big capability gap, thus recommend we split MRFA into 60 F-35s and 60 Rafales off the shelf with deliveries complete by 2030...Doable if we are realistic, fast and are willing to pay money - quality and capability has a cost especially when we can't make it domestically...this won't compromise AMCA as long as we keep pushing Tejas mk2s and AMCA to start initial production before 2030...All about choices, trade-offs and of course money....

 

[desigandu]

It's not. I recently read a report which said that F35s need a daily activation code. The only 2 countries which can generate these codes are US and UK (for British planes only). So the planes can be rendered unoperational overnight. Of course, these things are quite secretive so I won't vouch for the authenticity of the report.

F-35s will come with strings attached no matter what - our choices are either we get them with x conditions or keep waiting for AMCA which earliest will be available 2035-2040...

 

[Devasahayam]

Unlikely, as we have (and are using) S-400...also, fact that Boeing upped sales-pitch for F21 just after supply snag of F404/F414 (which US can use to push "packet deal" of F21 and F15 EX)....F-35 to India = non-starter.

 

[Devasahayam]

F-35s will come with strings attached no matter what - our choices are either we get them with x conditions or keep waiting for AMCA which earliest will be available 2035-2040...

No strings -- as it's a non-starter.

 

[Sandeep]

The USA are never going to sell it to India at all because of their fears of Russia finding out more about it’s technology, parts, equipment, weaknesses and information as we still use Russian technology and some weapons along with sharing a good close relationship which the USA don’t want us to have.

 

[Sudha]

I am all for AMCA but know that AMCAs even Mk1s will not fly in large numbers before 2035, that leaves a big capability gap, thus recommend we split MRFA into 60 F-35s and 60 Rafales off the shelf with deliveries complete by 2030...Doable if we are realistic, fast and are willing to pay money - quality and capability has a cost especially when we can't make it domestically...this won't compromise AMCA as long as we keep pushing Tejas mk2s and AMCA to start initial production before 2030...All about choices, trade-offs and of course money....

Nice suggestion, but a bit over the budget & there is the question of US arm twisting also.

 

[desigandu]

Nice suggestion, but a bit over the budget & there is the question of US arm twisting also.

I agree - but life is all about choices and trade-offs hopefully aligned to our national security strategy...I am personally not averse to India getting closer to the Americans as long as we can ensure no formal military alliance and avoid becoming like the UK, though I prefer the French model...let us see what happens - it will depend of how we approach China....

US arm twists everybody including UK, Japan and Australia as they believe in promoting their national interest - nothing wrong with that...we should do the same but we are not a superpower yet so we have to chose and also give, else develop fast like China is doing...not that the Chinese way is good as they have no true friends or even allies...

 

[Mohamed Suleiman]

Please please don't fall into this US trap. US is after your billions. F35 is neither necessary nor affordable. India to concentrate on its own R & D to benefit from aping off. India has enough strenths to ward off both China and Pakistan.

 

[Ashish Tiwari]

It's a massive headache we don't need.

You will decide if it's a headache or an asset?

 

[Bhupesh Desai]

F=35 will be a bad idea for India.

 

[Bhupesh Desai]

Bad idea as F-35 is does not fit in India's eco system. Continue with AMCA and fast track it.

 

[Alok Gupta]

It costs almost $35,000 per hour to operate this aircraft. I think India will be better off without it for the time being. The J-20 that China has employed on India's border is visible to Indian radar. So it is really not a much superior aircraft. With the Super Su-30MKI upgrade, India can handle the J-20. India should wait and develop it's own AMCA. The MRFA's RFI also entails manufacturing a portion of the order in India. The US will never share that crucial technology that is involved in the F-35. So, the question of selling the F-35 for the MRFA tender does not arise. It is the fantasy of a lot of so called defense journalists.

 

[PKPRS]

F35 with Israeli Avionics is getting ready.

Lockheed to design new F-35 variant for mystery customer

Lockheed Martin has received a $49 million contract from the United States to design and develop an F-35 variant "tailored for an unspecified Foreign Military Sales customer".

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

but this variant could be for Singapore also, so no guarantees.

 

[Pink Panther]

F35 not coming till S-400 goes out to Ukraine which will never happen, Turkey is a good example, if anything has a chance it would be F21/F15 for the budget $17Bln we have for MRFA 114 jets for $149Mln each or nothing, we might have to do shopping for a lot of scrape metal to keep our old jets up and running and wait for Tejas MK2, may be later they might go for a few squadrons of SU-57 and wait for AMCA.

 

[Raja Raja Cholan]

I think India going for F35 is neither a game changer nor pipe dream it's a fools belief. I think it's not going to happen. When the Indian government is dragging its feet to procure 114 MRFA fighter aircrafts far too long it places its bet to capitalise on home grown Tejas Mk1A, Mk2 and 5th gen AMCA. It is not in favour of foreign fighter aircrafts the decision makers are banking on made in India fighters to fulfil the numbers in the IAF. Looks like the policy makers are confident war is not happening anytime soon. Even if it is going to happen china will send an invitation. So in the meantime I think in my opinion the government is willing to take chances to wait for Mk1A, Mk2 and AMCA to materialise even if it takes another 10 to 15 years.

 

[Akshat]

F35 not coming till S-400 goes out to Ukraine which will never happen, Turkey is a good example, if anything has a chance it would be F21/F15 for the budget $17Bln we have for MRFA 114 jets for $149Mln each or nothing, we might have to do shopping for a lot of scrape metal to keep our old jets up and running and wait for Tejas MK2, may be later they might go for a few squadrons of SU-57 and wait for AMCA.

Su57 has been rejected by us. The all time L1 will be chosen as that’s the only plane which meets our requirements within the given budget.