India’s billion-dollar fighter jet face-off

India faces a decisive option in updating the Air Force – but is the advanced American fighter answer?

During his visit to Washington last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump, who announced they were “roadbed” In order for India to get the F-35s, a plane is sold primarily for allies and partners.

the F-35 It is a “fifth generation” multi -generation fighter plane with advanced sensors, combat systems driven by artificial intelligence and unused data sharing capabilities. It is designed to evade radar, which is the most advanced planes in the sky – but at $ 80 million, also one of the most expensive. (The ghost is a major feature of the “Fifth Generation” fighter.)

Many believe that as its combat swarms are diminished and the army grows in China, India is facing a great choice of dangers: it boasts about the latest F-35 from the United States or strengthening defense relations with Russia through local production of the most advanced in the ghost aircraft.

Experts believe that the reality is more accurate, with the “mild” “mild” “mild” “moderate”, which is a large-scale media noise-that it has recently nurtured both aircraft at the largest air exhibition in Asia, Aero India, in the southern city of Bangaluru last month.

Trump F-35 appears to be more “symbolic” than the operation, driven by his motivation to sell American weapons, according to Ashley J. Jillis, a older-class colleague in Carnegie for gift for international peace.

Incorporation of the “Fifth Generation” plans into the Indian Air Force plans (IAF) – which focuses on local intermediate aircraft (AMCA) and more Rafales – will be a challenge, especially without joint production rights. It is developed by the Research and Development Organization of India (DRDO), which is Amca is a ghost fighter in India.

“The F-35 is unlikely to be presented for a joint production of India-it is likely that any of the acquisition of a direct sale process. This is unlikely, among other things, to sit well with Moody’s emphasis on his achievement in India and the important end user monitoring if the F-35 is probably sold by India,”

India’s challenges with F -35 are its sharp cost, severe maintenance and operation – a plane provides about 51 % for the US Air Force, according to security expert Stephen Brain, author of an alternative column, Weapons and strategy. “The question is whether India is ready to invest billions of rupees on the F-35, knowing that it can better buy the Russian plane.”

But many reject SU-57 as a real competitor, noting that India came out of the program that lasted for a decade to participate in the production of aircraft with Russia in 2018 due to the conflicts to transport technology and exchange costs and its specifications.

The Indian Air Force is definitely progressing in aging and short on combat aircraft.

It runs 31 fighters and a fighter-most of them from Russian aircraft and the Soviet era-much less than the 42 that have been approved. A major challenge is to find a long-term alternative for SUKHOI-30, which is the multi-use IAF IAF action from Russia.

Christopher Clary, a political scientist at Albani University, recently referred to disturbing data from the ISS military balance of India: Between 2014 and 2024, China added 435 combat aircraft and prominent attacks, Pakistan got 31, while the Indian fleet decreased by 151.

The planned fighter plane in India is largely expanded, with Plans to gain more than 500 aircraftMostly light combat aircraft.

The orders of 83 Tejas Mark 1A – AGLE multi -edition – is confirmed, where another 97 is expected to be requested soon. Meanwhile, Mark 2 is heavier and more advanced in development. A local plane is still at least a decade away.

India also has plans to purchase 114 multi -fighter aircraft as part of a $ 20 billion multi -role combat aircraft program (MRFA), which requires $ 20 billion in foreign aircraft in India under technology transmission – its largest obstacle.

The Indian government has stopped since 2019, and it is looking into a transparent and irreversible purchase process after it has faced criticism of the acquisition of 36 Rafales in a deal from the government to the government. Five aircraft in the competition, with Rafale driving as already in service with IAF.

Experts say the update of the Indian Air Force faces three main obstacles: financing, delay and relying on foreign aircraft.

Defense spending I shrunk in real phrases. Foreign fighter program risks Jets with a decree. While India offers priority to the home, the delay in DRDO forces foreign purchase, creating a frequent cycle. Its break requires offering a capable local plane on time. Delivera operations are also delayed due to the preparation for the General Electric F-404 aircraft supplies.

One of the main challenges is the incompatibility between the Ministry of Defense and IAF needs.

TEJAS MARK 1 faced early doubts of the Air Force, which led to promotions such as Mark 1A and Mark 2. “But decades -continuing development cycles thwart the armed forces, especially since their requirements are developing with the availability of newer technologies, which in turn contribute to delaying further delay,” Mr. Bahtia told me.

Even the head of the Indian Air Force AP Singh His frustration did not hide On the delay.

“I can pledge that I will not buy anything from abroad or I will wait for everything that has been developed in India, but it may not be possible if it doesn’t happen so quickly [on time]Air Marshall Singh said at a seminar recently.

“At the present time, we all know that we are in a very bad situation when it comes to numbers [of fighters]. And the numbers promised also come somewhat slow. Therefore, there will be a condition to go and search for something that can fill these voids quickly, “referring to the late Tejas Mark 1A delivery, which was supposed to start last February but not started yet.

India’s clear priority is a local fighter, with more than a billion dollars already committed to developing it. “A foreign hidden plane will not be seen unless India’s perception of the immediate threat is transformed,” says Mr. Bahatia. China has the so-called hiding fighters-J-20 and J-35- But they are likely to be less than the standards of the United States.

Most experts believe that India will not choose American or Russian fighters. “In the short term, as shown in previous conflicts, emergency purchases may fill gaps. The medium-term focus is joint production, but the long game is clear-its building on that,” says Mr. Bahatia.

For India, the future of the air force is not only related to the purchase of aircraft – but rather its construction, perfectly with a strong Western partner. But for this vision to succeed, India must present local fighters on time.