F-35 fighter: Why India might take the Rafale route to buy US fifth-generation fighter jets

The US fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet acquisition might mirror India’s Rafale buy from France, doubtless being an inter-governmental settlement serving as an interim answer for the Indian Air Pressure till indigenous jets are developed beneath the Superior Multirole Fight Plane programme.
In line with an ET report, the F35 procurement, much like the Rafale settlement, might proceed via authorities channels, guaranteeing supply and value parity with US forces.
Discussions for F35 procurement, which US President Trump referenced after assembly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will start quickly. The negotiations are anticipated to be sophisticated attributable to American necessities for shielding subtle onboard expertise.
The amount of F35 fighters India would possibly buy might be restricted, contemplating substantial acquisition and operational prices. The numbers would possibly align with the present Air Pressure deployment of two squadrons (36 plane) of French Rafale fighters.
Nevertheless, F35s might require strict monitoring protocols, with American oversight to stop entry by personnel from nations like Russia.
Beforehand, the Pentagon’s main concern concerning promoting fifth-generation plane to India was the presence of Russian S400 air defence programs. The US plane are engineered to keep away from superior Russian defences, and no nation at present operates each programs. There are considerations about S400 programs being calibrated to trace these superior plane.
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The mechanisms for sustaining separation between the 2 programs stay unsure. The Indian Navy’s pursuit of 26 carrier-based fighter plane, with French negotiations progressing effectively, sometimes includes operations exterior the protection space of deployed S400 programs.
The F 35s might probably function an interim answer. At present, the preliminary AMCA plane are projected to hitch service no sooner than 2036, with potential timeline extensions. The proposed acquisition of French Rafale Marine jets was supposed as a brief measure till indigenous Twin Engine Deck Based mostly Fighters turn into operational.
The F35 acquisition is more likely to function an interim answer. At present, the preliminary AMCA jets are usually not anticipated to be operational earlier than 2036, with potential delays. Equally, the French Rafale Marine plane procurement was proposed as a brief measure till indigenous Twin Engine Deck Based mostly Fighters are developed.