India Rejects Proposed Billion‑Dollar F‑35 Deal, Signals Readiness to Engage Elsewhere

India has rejected a proposed sale of U.S. F‑35 stealth fighter jets, a decision prompted by growing trade tensions following the U.S. imposition of a 25% tariff on Indian goods, effective August 1, 2025. Despite earlier statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting India would acquire the jets, Indian officials have clarified that no formal negotiations or acquisition process over the F‑35 have been initiated.

Advertisements

During Parliament proceedings, the Indian government reaffirmed its commitment to strategic autonomy and national interest, noting that the F‑35 offer remains at the “proposal stage”—with no request for proposal (RFP) or procurement mechanism underway. Officials also emphasised continued adherence to the Make in India initiative, prioritising indigenous development programs like HAL’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) over expensive foreign acquisitions.

Experts and critics have voiced concerns over the F‑35’s unsuitability for India’s military ecosystem. Key objections include:

• Operational incompatibility with Indian Air Force assets like Su-30MKI, S-400 defense systems, and Russian-origin avionics.
• High acquisition and lifecycle costs, potentially exceeding $80 million per unit, with annual maintenance running tens of millions.
• Loss of operational independence, due to proprietary logistics and mission systems such as ALIS/ODIN managed by the U.S. government and Lockheed Martin.

Alternatives are emerging: Russia is offering its fifth-gen Su‑57 jets with proposed local production and full technology transfer, aligning better with India’s self-reliance goals—though India has stressed no active talks with either the U.S. or Russia regarding stealth fighter purchases.

✅ Key Takeaways