SOURCE: AFI
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or QUAD, comprising the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, has been pivotal in shaping strategic dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. Each member, except India, has integrated or is in the process of integrating the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II into their military forces, raising questions about India’s exclusion from this particular technology transfer.
India has historically maintained a policy of strategic autonomy, which sometimes conflicts with deep military alliances or dependency on foreign technology. The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the defence establishment have been cautious about technologies that could bind India too closely to any one power, especially in terms of maintenance, upgrades, and operational control.
The F-35 program involves extensive control over technology by the U.S., including restrictions on technology transfer and co-production, which are central to India’s defense procurement strategy. India’s insistence on manufacturing and technology transfer terms might not align with U.S. policies for the F-35.
India has been focusing on indigenous projects like the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). These initiatives aim to reduce reliance on imports, foster self-reliance in defence, and cater to specific operational requirements of the IAF.
India’s MRFA tender, which is meant to procure 114 multi-role fighter aircraft, hasn’t explicitly included the F-35. Instead, it has looked at aircraft like the F/A-18 Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Rafale, due to considerations of technology transfer, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with existing fleets.
For Lockheed Martin, expanding the F-35 program to India would mean substantial business growth. However, this must be balanced against the U.S.’s strategic and diplomatic interests, which include maintaining India’s role as a counterbalance to China without creating overdependence.
Arming India with F-35s could indeed serve U.S. interests by enhancing regional security architecture against potential adversaries. However, it also risks escalating tensions if not managed with diplomacy, ensuring India’s strategic independence remains intact.
While the F-35 could significantly boost India’s air combat capabilities, the reasons for its absence from India’s arsenal are rooted in a complex web of strategic, economic, and political considerations. The U.S. might be interested in arming India to balance regional powers, but the path to acquiring F-35s involves navigating through India’s policies on autonomy, technology transfer, and the inherent complexities of defense procurement in a democratic and often scrutinized system.