Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force [IAF] need creative options to increase the numbers as well as capabilities to upgrade combat fighter strength of the IAF, here is a look at one.
Known for creative [sic] disruption, United States President Donald Trump’s remarks at the Joint Press Meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, that the U.S. will facilitate sales of F 35 Stealth aircraft to India has set the cat amongst the pigeons so to say.
“Starting this year, we’ll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” said President Trump.
While the Joint Statement did include a review by the US of policy on releasing fifth generation technologies to India, stating, “The leaders pledged to accelerate defense technology cooperation across space, air defense, missile, maritime and undersea technologies, with the U.S. announcing a review of its policy on releasing fifth generation fighters and undersea systems to India, ” direct mention of the F 35 did come as a surprise for the Indian officials even those accompanying the Prime Minister to the United States.
In response to a question on F 35 Shri Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary of India during a media briefing on February 13 was cautious and said, ...”on military sales to India, look there is a process by which platforms are acquired. You are well aware of that process. There is, in most cases, a request for proposals that is floated. There are responses to those. They are evaluated. I don't think with regard to the acquisition of an advanced aviation platform by India, that process has started as yet. So this is currently something that's at the stage of a proposal. But I don't think the formal process in this regard has started as yet”.
Subsequent statements by Ministry of Defence officials including the Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh indicate that there is no offer made by the US so far.
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh threw further cold water on acquisition of F 35 during a media forum when asked about the same stating that buying a combat aircraft is not like buying a refrigerator or a television, it is a considered decision.
Indeed, these statements are well received.
Yet it would be difficult to dismiss the US President’s open offer at the press meet outrightly. In fact if India is serious of taking up the offer of F 35, the Ministry of Defence could pursue the same with the US Department of Defence given the urgent need for the Indian Air Force for a fifth generation fighter rather than adopting a defensive approach.
It is not just China PLA Air Force going sixth generation that is the reason, but for a modern aerospace force which the IAF aspires to be, transition from the fourth to the fifth combat fighter environment is important giving a qualitative edge against any adversary.
The qualitative edge not only comes from stealth but the ability to integrate with other fighters and even unmanned systems thus dominating the airspace environment in which it operates. In fact, F 35 can provide complete air superiority over a theatre of operations if employed in sufficient numbers integrated with other systems.
Indeed, there are many concerns over acquisition of the F 35 which are well known though ‘kill switch’ and operational availability may be exaggerated.
The F 35 may also set back the Indian AMCA programme however given the time lag for fielding the first AMCA by 2035, IAF needs to look for alternatives.
With several European and NATO members now reviewing their defence partnership to reduce dependence on the United States seeing it as an unreliable ally after US Vice President J D Vance’s diatribe at the Munich Security Conference in February this year there maybe cutback on procurements of the F 35 which are on order or proposed.
Portugal is the first European country which is likely to look for alternatives for the F 35 which though not on order was a natural priority to replace the aging F 16 fleet sighting unreliability of supplies from the US due to geostrategic uncertainties of the administration in Washington.
There are suggestions that Germany and Canada may review their future orders for the F 35 and even cutback on the current ones given the concerns that have emerged after statements by President Trump who wants to append Canada to the United States.
In such a scenario, there is a possibility of the IAF acquiring the F 35 off the shelf by 2028 – in another three years despite the tedious Indian acquisition process.
These could be in sufficient numbers that can make up the gap before AMCA is inducted in 2035 and thus need not ‘kill’ the indigenous fifth generation programme.
Yes, the F 35 is not without several concerns including supply chain issues and US restrictions on use with a stringent End User Agreement likely to constrain employment but it may not be a restriction against the Chinese PLAAF.
There could be challenges in integration of F 35 by the IAF with Russian systems including fighter jets and the sensitivity of the S 400. These details will have to be worked out
With creativity India can have the F 35 and AMCA in the timeframe between 2028-2035. Is the Indian Ministry of Defence and the IAF up to the challenge remains to be seen?
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