Context:
India finds itself in the most difficult of dilemmas: to accept U.S. President Donald Trump’s invitation to purchase the F-35 fighter jet, a fifth generation stealth fighter. While the Indian Air Force (IAF) would welcome the purchase under the circumstances of Chinese military developments, the decision is clouded by many strategic, financial, and technological considerations.
Milestones in India US Defence Cooperation
- Strengthening military ties
- India and the US have pledged to elevate defence cooperation across all domains including air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace.
- Joint initiatives
- The Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA), streamlined defence trade and technology exchange, and the new 10 year defence partnership framework are all in the purview.
- Further procurements
- India is pursuing the purchase of six more P-8I maritime patrol aircraft along with joint production of Stryker combat vehicles and Javelin missiles.
F-35 Offer: Some Basic Considerations
Strategic Implications
- Closer US ties vs. strategic independence
- The actual acquisition of the F-35 would deepen India’s integration into the U.S. defense ecosystem, possibly limiting its capacity for strategic autonomy.
- Geopolitical balance in arms acquisition
- India historically has diversified its defense acquisition programs, buying fighters from Russia, France, and a few others whilst consciously avoiding U.S. jets so as not to depend too much on one supplier.
- Effect on the Indo-Russian defense partnership
- Russia is a partner of great importance in defense, and the purchase of F-35 could further complicate matters regarding several of India’s ongoing deals, including that of the S 400 missile system.
Cost and Technology Transfer
- Issue of high acquisition and maintenance costs
- The F-35 is reputedly one of the most expensive fighter jets, having really huge life cycle costs. India will be seeking clarification about
- Off the shelf pricing
- Technology transfers and local manufacturing
- Maintenance agreements and operational readiness
- Likely interference with homegrown AMCA project
- Domestic development of the fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft may be hindered if India diverts its attention towards the F-35.
Operational Necessity
- China pushing air power
- China has positioned J-20 stealth fighters along the Indian border and is working on developing sixth generation aircraft, while simultaneously Pakistan may soon be getting a variant of the J 20.
- IAF continues with squadron shortages
- Currently, there are only 30 operational fighter squadrons against the required 42.5 to operate in air superiority sets. Into this, HAL delays with Tejas and AMCA being a good decade away, this offers an interim opportunity to deter against these two states in the acquisition of F 35s (36 to 54 jets).
The offer of the F-35 fighter jet lies against a backdrop of maintaining a subtle balance between strategic autonomy, financial viability, and operational necessity. Although the short term acquisition of stealth capabilities may benefit the IAF, India must assess the overall impact on its indigenous fighter programs and long range defence strategy.
