SOURCE: AFI
Lockheed Martin has expressed optimism regarding the potential sale of the F-35 Lightning II to India following a recent announcement by former U.S. President Donald Trump supporting the move. A company spokesperson stated:
“We are encouraged by the recent announcement by President Trump to provide the F-35 to India. We look forward to working closely with both governments on upcoming strategic procurements, including the fighters.”
While details of the F-35 offer to India remain unclear, it is widely speculated that any potential sale would be structured as a Government-to-Government (G2G) deal between Washington and New Delhi. This could mean that rather than participating in India’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, the F-35A could be offered as a direct purchase, similar to how India procured the 36 Dassault Rafales under an intergovernmental agreement with France in 2016.
However, it is unlikely that India will procure 110 jets—the number originally planned under the MRFA tender. Instead, a limited purchase of F-35s could be considered for specific high-priority missions, given its advanced stealth, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare capabilities.
The Indian Parliamentary Committee on Defence recently recommended that India procure 5th-generation fighter jets, citing significant delays in the MRFA tender. The MRFA program has been slow-moving, with the Rafale F4 emerging as a frontrunner due to India’s past experience with the platform and the ongoing negotiations for 26 Rafale Marine (M) jets for the Indian Navy.
If India moves forward with an F-35 acquisition, it would mark a significant shift in its defense procurement strategy, which has traditionally relied on Russian, European, and indigenous aircraft. However, experts believe that rather than replacing the MRFA tender, India could split its fighter procurement strategy, acquiring a limited number of F-35s for high-end operations while continuing to invest in the Rafale and indigenous AMCA program.
India’s decision on the F-35 will be closely watched, as it could reshape its strategic partnerships and elevate India’s air combat capabilities to a new level in the Indo-Pacific region.
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