Overview

• The Ministry of External Affairs told Parliament on August 1 that India has not held any formal discussions with the US on procuring F-35 jets.
• Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force reiterated that no official offer for the F-35 has been received and its capabilities remain unevaluated.
• A US Navy F-35 training jet crashed near Lemoore Air Base on July 31, with its pilot ejecting safely.
• The F-35 program has experienced three crashes and multiple emergency landings since entering service in 2015, fueling doubts over its technical maturity.
• India’s reluctance is further driven by high acquisition and maintenance costs and Russia’s proposal of licensed Su-57 production with full technology transfer.