Tech Desk: Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh recently made a light-hearted yet pointed remark regarding the highly secretive F-35 stealth fighter, quipping that US personnel “don’t let us near” the aircraft despite ongoing discussions about a potential sale to India. This statement came during Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 in Jodhpur, where six US F-35 Lightning-IIs made their debut on Indian soil, offering a rare glimpse of the fifth-generation jet.

Air Chief Marshal Singh clarified that India has received no official offer for the F-35. He highlighted the stringent security protocols, noting that Indian officials were not even permitted close access to the cockpit, though Indian aircraft did fly in close formation during the exercise. General Kevin Schneider of the US Pacific Air Forces explained these restrictions are standard for protecting sensitive military technology, governed by strict program-level security guidelines.

The discussion underscores India’s urgent need to modernize its air combat fleet. While the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is years away, regional adversaries like China are rapidly expanding their stealth capabilities, and Pakistan may acquire Chinese J-35s. India is also considering Russia’s Su-57, though no decision has been made on its formal evaluation.

Any acquisition of an advanced fighter like the F-35 or Su-57 involves complex strategic considerations beyond the aircraft itself. Factors such as weapons integration, long-term technology access, maintenance, logistics, software control, and potential strategic dependence are paramount. India aims to balance immediate capability gaps with its long-term objective of achieving self-reliance in defence aviation through programs like AMCA, maintaining a credible technological edge in a rapidly evolving security landscape.