India has reportedly informed U.S. officials of its decision not to move forward with the acquisition of the F-35A stealth fighter to equip its Air Force, despite Washington’s continued efforts to expand its defense exports to New Delhi. According to this information, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government does not plan to approve any major new defense agreements with the United States in the short term.
The matter was reportedly discussed during Modi’s official visit to the White House in February, when then-President Donald Trump personally presented the F-35A proposal as part of a broader strategy for strategic and military cooperation. However, Indian authorities are said to have reiterated that their focus remains on defense programs that prioritize technology transfer and local production.
Balancing Foreign Procurement and Domestic Production
An Indian official stated that “the government is more interested in a partnership focused on the joint design and manufacturing of defense equipment within the country.” This position aligns with the “Make in India” initiative, which aims to strengthen the country’s domestic industrial capabilities.
Quoting a portion of the official communication authorizing progress on the prototype: “In a significant effort to enhance India’s indigenous defense capabilities and foster a robust national aerospace industrial ecosystem, Raksha Mantri Shri (Note: Hindi title for the Minister of Defence) has approved the Execution Model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.”
For this reason, the U.S. proposal—which was part of a broader attempt to deepen defense industry ties at a time when India has increased its procurement of American platforms in recent years (such as MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft)—was reportedly not accepted by New Delhi. The Modi government is not willing to acquire high-end systems without clear guarantees of local production and technology access.
Despite the rejection, it’s important to note that India continues to maintain strong defense ties with the U.S., as evidenced by deliveries in July when the first three of six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters arrived on Indian soil.
Russia’s Role in India
At the same time, Russia has reportedly presented an alternative more aligned with India’s defense priorities. In July, Moscow offered a package that includes the fifth-generation Su-57E stealth fighter and the Su-35M multirole aircraft, through the state conglomerate Rostec and aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi.
Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated that the Russian offer includes full technology transfer for the Su-57E, with local production to take place at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Nashik—the same facility that has assembled more than 220 Su-30MKI fighters. Localization could reach 60%, allowing integration of domestic systems such as the Astra air-to-air missile, Rudram anti-radiation missile, and Virupaksha AESA radar.
Initial deliveries of between 20 and 30 Su-57E units could be completed within three to four years, followed by large-scale domestic production. The total agreement would cover between 70 and 100 aircraft, to be delivered by the early 2030s.
Meanwhile, Russia also offered the Su-35M as a short-term solution to boost the number of squadrons in the Indian Air Force. According to Rostec, the Su-35M shares up to 80% of its components with the Su-30MKI, which could ease logistics and pilot training.
Where Does the Indian Air Force Stand?
One thing is clear: India must modernize its Air Force, and New Delhi is well aware of this—especially after the recent conflict with its long-standing rival, Pakistan. Without going into too much detail, it is important to note that during the conflict, the Indian Air Force faced serious challenges in countering and repelling attacks by the JF-17 and J-10C fighters.
As a result, a process has begun to retire aging aircraft, alongside the induction of new combat systems and the modernization of platforms currently in service. This stage reflects both the country’s efforts to upgrade its air power and the technical and logistical challenges such processes entail.
One of the most significant recent milestones is the gradual phasing out of the Soviet-designed MiG-21 fighters, which were introduced in 1963 and represented the country’s first supersonic combat aircraft. Today, the Indian Air Force operates around 36 MiG-21s—a dramatic decrease from the more than 850 that served over the past six decades. With this retirement, India will reduce its number of active combat squadrons to about 29, one of the lowest figures in its recent history.
Interestingly, the MiG-21s participated in multiple regional conflicts, including the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war, the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, and the 1999 Kargil conflict. However, the model has also faced heavy criticism due to its accident record, which includes more than 400 incidents and around 200 pilot deaths.
While it remains unclear whether Russia will become India’s supplier of fifth-generation fighters or whether the domestic AMCA program will take that role, it is a fact that both the Indian Air Force and Navy have advanced with other acquisitions to enhance their operational capabilities. In April, the country signed a deal with French firm Dassault Aviation to purchase 26 Rafale M fighters for carrier operations aboard the INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The contract includes 22 single-seat and 4 two-seat aircraft. This will be the first export of the Rafale’s naval version, which currently serves in the French Navy.
In Summary
The Indian Air Force is undergoing a phase of structural reconfiguration. As it moves toward fleet modernization, it must also deal with temporary operational limitations caused by delays in domestic production and the need to extend the service life of older aircraft. This combination of factors defines the current outlook for one of Asia’s leading air forces.
Images for illustrative purposes only.
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