India likely to follow Rafale model for F-35 fighter jet acquisition from US: Report

Last week, Trump, in a joint press meet with PM Modi, confirmed that the US would eventually provide F-35 stealth fighters to India.

India is reportedly considering the acquisition of the F-35 fighter jets from the US, a move that could follow a government-to-government model similar to India’s Rafale deal with France. This deal, still in the proposal stage, is expected to involve the purchase of a limited number of F-35s, serving as a stop-gap solution until India’s indigenous Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program is ready, reported the Economic Times.

The procurement of these fifth-generation fighter jets comes at a critical time for the Indian Air Force (IAF), whose fleet of mainly Russian and ex-Soviet aircraft has shrunk to 31 squadrons, well below the approved strength of 42. The need for modern, advanced aircraft has become more pressing as China rapidly expands its air force capabilities.

During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington on February 15, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the US would eventually provide F-35 stealth fighters to India, describing the move as part of a broader ramp-up in military sales. “Starting this year, we’ll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars,” Trump said. “We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters.”

India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, clarified that the F-35 deal remains a proposal, with no formal process yet initiated. Despite this, Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, expressed optimism about the possibility of the deal, with a spokesperson stating, "We are encouraged by the recent announcement by President Trump to provide the F-35 to India. However, these are government-to-government decisions, and we look forward to working closely with both governments on upcoming strategic procurements."

The US has been a key supplier of defense products to India, with the country agreeing to buy over $20 billion worth of US defense equipment since 2008. The deal to acquire F-35s, however, is likely to be complicated, as the US will require strict safeguards to protect the advanced technology onboard the jets. This is particularly crucial given the US’ concerns over India’s use of Russian-origin S-400 air defense systems - designed to counter advanced combat aircraft like the F-35. The Pentagon has previously raised objections to the sale of the jets to India over fears that the S-400 could be fine-tuned to detect the F-35’s stealth capabilities.

Similar to the Rafale deal, which involved a government-to-government transaction, the F-35 acquisition would likely guarantee pricing and delivery terms at par with the US military. However, unlike the Rafales, the F-35s may come with a stringent end-user monitoring protocol to ensure that foreign personnel, including those from Russia, do not gain access to the aircraft’s advanced technology.

With the high cost of both acquiring and maintaining the F-35s, India is expected to purchase a limited number of these jets, potentially mirroring the two squadrons (36 aircraft) of Rafales currently in operation with the IAF. The ongoing negotiations are expected to be complex and will require both governments to address strategic, security, and operational concerns.