SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Navy had long shown interest in acquiring advanced fighter jets capable of operating from its aircraft carriers. Among the most ambitious ideas was exploring the potential procurement of the F-35B Lightning II, the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation stealth fighter. The F-35B’s ability to take off and land on small surfaces, akin to a helicopter, made it a compelling option to replace the Navy’s ageing fleet of Sea Harrier jump jets and complement the MiG-29K fleet.
According to than Lockheed Martin’s former Vice President, Orville Prins, the Indian Navy received an initial briefing on the F-35 program as early as 2010. At the time, the F-35B variant was under development and showcased advanced features such as stealth, integrated sensors, and STOVL capabilities, designed for operations on smaller carriers like the Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
However, the F-35 program faced significant technical and cost-related challenges during its development phase. These hurdles, coupled with India’s focus on its indigenous Tejas Naval Program and its ongoing acquisition of MiG-29K fighters, put the idea of procuring the F-35 on hold now and will never happen as it decides to go for 26 Rafale M for its fleet.
Although the Indian Navy has not ruled out operating the F-35C (the carrier variant with conventional take-off and landing capabilities) or F-35B in the future, the immediate focus remains on indigenous projects. The Navy is heavily invested in the TEDBF program.