The deficiency of fighter jets in the India Air Force (IAF) has been conspicuous for years. But precious little has been done to address this criticality beyond importing 36 French Rafale jets against 126 multi-role fighter jets procurement planned earlier.

A recent study by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) has concluded that the French Air Force "could" survive just three days against Russia - fourth-generation French Rafale pitted against fifth-generation Russian fighter aircraft. The Indian government is mum on the loss of Rafale (s) in Op Sindoor possibly because India is to import 26 Rafale (M) for the Indian Navy.  

Criticality of IAFs fighter jet strength also came up in the ongoing session of Parliament, which is down to around 30 against the authorised strength of 42 because of bureaucratic intransigence and political indecision. This will go down further with the MiG-21s retiring in September 2025, somewhat equal to the Pakistan Air Force. But the government remains gung-ho about taking on a collusive China-Pakistan threat, and IAFs existing Tejas jets are not even deployed on these critical borders.

F-35 A Political Decision?

The IAF has shown interest in procuring approximately 120 AMCA aircraft; 40 AMCA MK-1 variants and 80 more advanced AMCA MK-2 variants, but their induction into the IAF would take many years. China has already test flown its sixth-generation fighter jet, Pakistan is scheduled to get the fifth-generation J-35s early next year, while India’s AMCA prototype is scheduled to take off only in 2028. According to analysts, by the time India inducts its multirole fighter in the IAF, China will have 1,000 fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

Short-term requirements of the IAF (2-3 fighter squadrons) need to be addressed immediately. Trump is pushing to sell the F-35 fighters to India. Russia has offered the Su-57, with transfer of technology, and saying existing Su-30 infrastructure in India can be used to maintain them. Both the F-35 and Su-57 are fifth- generation fighters but the F-35 costs USD 80 million, the Su-57 USD 35 million, and with six accidents already, F-35 fares lower than the Su-57. Besides, the "Kill Switch" on the F-35 has got Europe worried.  

It is no secret that no defence deals in India are  without kickbacks. Defence procurements are done taking cover behind statements that the Army/Navy/Air Force want this or that while decisions are made by the bureaucracy on which the polity depends. In fact, before the deal is actually signed, the kickbacks reach the agreed destination (s).  Now news is being circulated in the media that the IAF has decided to procure F-35 fighter jets to meet its short-term requirements; although the final decision is to be taken by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Who are we fooling? Isn’t it amazing how such a recommendation comes through so rapidly despite our being so much below the  sanctioned fighter squadron strength?

If the government is indeed going in for F-35 squadrons to meet IAF’s interim requirements, it is without doubt a political decision to appease President Donald Trump who wants India to increase defence imports from the US and reduce/stop defence imports from Russia on the threat of additional penalties and sanctions under (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Putting the onus on the IAF is outright silly. Not only the high cost, underperformance, the “Kill Switch” and possibility of the US pulling out support anytime, enough deterrents, there are other reasons as well that the politicians and bureaucrats wouldn’t be aware of.   

Will F-35s Be Compatible?

How is the IAF expected to integrate the F-35s with our S-400 AD missile systems, and the S-500 AD missile system that India is keen on?   Turkey has regiments of Russian S-400 AD missile systems. But the purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence systems by Turkey led to the US blocking Turkey's participation in the F-35 fighter jet program. The primary concern was that operating the S-400 and F-35 together could expose the F-35's stealth technology to Russia, potentially compromising its effectiveness and providing Russia with valuable intelligence. Surely the IAF knows all this.

So, if the government is still keen to import F-35s to appease Trump, will it agree to his next demand to dump the S-400 and go for America’s Patriot AD Systems that Russia is periodically destroying in Ukraine?  

Finally, will the import of F-35 fighter jets be good for India’s defence in any manner or only help soothe the temperamental Trump in any manner by paying to make America richer?

(The author is an Indian Army veteran. Views expressed are personal.)