F-35 fighter: Why India could 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 Drive till indigenous jets are developed beneath the Superior Multirole Fight Plane programme.
In response to an ET report, the F35 procurement, much like the Rafale settlement, could proceed by authorities channels, making certain 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 difficult on account of American necessities for shielding refined onboard expertise.
The amount of F35 fighters India may buy might be restricted, contemplating substantial acquisition and operational prices. The numbers may align with the present Air Drive deployment of two squadrons (36 plane) of French Rafale fighters.
Nevertheless, F35s could require strict monitoring protocols, with American oversight to stop entry by personnel from nations like Russia.
Beforehand, the Pentagon’s major concern concerning promoting fifth-generation plane to India was the presence of Russian S400 air defence methods. The US plane are engineered to keep away from superior Russian defences, and no nation at the moment operates each methods. There are considerations about S400 methods being calibrated to trace these superior plane.
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The mechanisms for sustaining separation between the 2 methods stay unsure. The Indian Navy’s pursuit of 26 carrier-based fighter plane, with French negotiations progressing effectively, usually entails operations outdoors the protection space of deployed S400 methods.
The F 35s might probably function an interim answer. Presently, the preliminary AMCA plane are projected to affix 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 out to be operational.
The F35 acquisition is prone to function an interim answer. Presently, the preliminary AMCA jets aren’t 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.