U.S. Prepares F-35A Stealth Fighter Offer to India Amid Pakistan-China Fifth-Gen Airpower Pact

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – In a landmark move that could recalibrate the strategic balance of power in South Asia, the United States is reportedly preparing to formally offer the F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighter to India as early as June this year.

With New Delhi facing the rapid advancement of Chinese and Pakistani fifth-generation airpower capabilities, the proposed acquisition is viewed as a critical element in reinforcing the Indian Air Force’s deterrent posture.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) continues to expand its operational fleet of Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon” stealth fighters, while Pakistan is expected to induct the new Chinese-built Shenyang J-35A as early as 2026, intensifying India’s demand for a stealth platform to maintain regional air superiority.

Defence officials and analysts note that India’s urgency to field a fifth-generation combat aircraft is rooted in an evolving dual-front threat matrix, requiring a response platform with low observability, advanced sensor fusion, and deep strike capability.

According to high-level sources cited by Indian defence outlets, the F-35A proposal to be presented by Washington will not be a baseline model but a uniquely customized configuration featuring systems tailored specifically for India.

Mirroring the precedent set with Israel’s F-35I “Adir”, the Indian F-35A variant is expected to include integration of Software Defined Radio (SDR) and an advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) suite—allowing deeper compatibility with India’s indigenous C4ISR networks.

Israel’s F-35I “Adir” remains the most operationally autonomous version of the platform, having secured unprecedented access to the F-35’s core systems and software architecture.

Unlike most international operators bound by U.S. software and weapons limitations, Israel successfully embedded domestically developed electronic warfare suites, sensor packages, and air-to-ground munitions like the Python-5 and Spice bombs directly into the F-35’s internal weapons bay.

This degree of customization has enabled Israel to execute real-world combat operations using the F-35I against high-value targets in Syria and beyond, providing the Israeli Air Force with a potent strategic first-strike option.

India is now pushing for similar latitude in tailoring its F-35A fleet, viewing sovereign configuration control as essential to integrating the aircraft into its complex tri-service architecture, which includes indigenous early warning systems and tactical data links.

Meanwhile, Chinese defence industry sources confirm that Beijing has accelerated the delivery timeline of the J-35A stealth fighter to Pakistan, now aiming for the first squadron to be operational by Q1 2026.

Sources within the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) suggest that China has committed to advancing the timeline by at least six months to ensure Islamabad receives the first batch of J-35A aircraft ahead of schedule.

Developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), the J-35A is being positioned as a naval-capable, carrier-variant stealth platform with strong export ambitions, rivalling Western fifth-gen offerings in regional markets.

Late 2024 and early 2025 are expected to see accelerated joint training between Chinese instructors and Pakistani pilots, many of whom are reportedly already undergoing familiarization with the J-35’s next-gen avionics and fly-by-wire systems.

Initial reports claim that Pakistan is set to acquire as many as 40 J-35A units over a 24-month induction window, dramatically enhancing its frontline capabilities and potentially altering the aerial balance along the Line of Control (LoC).

During a bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year, former U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed Washington’s intent to deepen military cooperation with India, declaring that expanded arms sales would begin in earnest from 2025.

“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,” Trump said in a press briefing, signaling a historic policy shift.

Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the F-35, has clarified that any sale to India would proceed through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) channel, with the Pentagon serving as the formal intermediary between Lockheed and the Indian Ministry of Defence.

This government-to-government model ensures strategic oversight and end-use compliance, while also enabling sensitive configuration requests and sustainment packages tailored to partner-specific requirements.

Since 2008, India has signed defence procurement deals with the United States worth more than US$20 billion, solidifying Washington’s position as one of New Delhi’s top arms suppliers.

A notable example was the long-awaited conclusion of a US$3 billion agreement in 2023 for 31 MQ-9B SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian unmanned aerial systems, following protracted negotiations spanning six years.

More recently, U.S. Vice President JD Vance reiterated Washington’s strong push for India to join the F-35 program, stating during a high-level visit that the stealth fighter would substantially bolster the Indian Air Force’s ability to secure its airspace in a multi-domain battlespace.

For decades, India’s air combat capabilities have been built around Russian platforms, including Su-30MKIs, MiG-29UPGs, and various iterations of MiG-21s and Jaguars, with Moscow acting as its principal defence partner.

However, Russia’s industrial base has been significantly weakened by its war in Ukraine, causing major delays in the export pipeline and prompting India to diversify its procurement sources.

In response, Russia has proposed a local co-production and technology-sharing deal for the Su-57E fifth-generation fighter, offering India an opportunity to domestically manufacture the jet using its existing Su-30MKI production lines.

Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov described the offer as “highly rewarding,” emphasizing not just the aircraft’s capability, but also the potential for indigenous assembly, configuration flexibility, and ecosystem development.

“We offer our own fifth-generation fighter. We have the best aircraft—the Su-57E. We just demonstrated it at Aero India in Bangalore, and it attracted enormous interest,” he said.

“This platform is highly competitive. We’re not just offering to sell it—we’re proposing co-development, tech transfer, and industrial support infrastructure tailored to India’s requirements.”

Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state arms export agency, confirmed that India could commence licensed production immediately by repurposing existing assembly facilities previously used for the Su-30MKI, of which over 220 units were built domestically under HAL.

As the geopolitical rivalry between U.S.-aligned Indo-Pacific democracies and China-backed alliances intensifies, India’s fighter jet decision is rapidly becoming more than just a military acquisition—it is a symbol of strategic alignment in an increasingly bipolar world order.

The F-35 program itself comprises three variants: the F-35A (CTOL) for conventional airbases, F-35B (STOVL) for short-runway or amphibious operations, and F-35C (carrier-based) for naval deployments.

The F-35A offers the most affordable and agile solution, while the F-35B is optimized for expeditionary forces, and the F-35C boasts the longest range and structural reinforcements for carrier operations.

Ultimately, India’s choice will reflect not only its desired capability set but also its long-term strategic alliances—between an Eastern partner seeking to rebuild, and a Western partner poised to reshape the next generation of air dominance.

Feature	F-35A (CTOL)	F-35B (STOVL)	F-35C (Carrier)
Takeoff Type	Conventional Runway	Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing	Catapult Launch & Arrested Recovery
Primary User	Air Forces	Marines / Expeditionary Forces	Navy (Carrier Ops)
Gun	Internal 25mm Cannon	External Gun Pod (optional)	External Gun Pod (optional)
Combat Radius	~1,093 km	~833 km	~1,200 km
Wingspan	10.7 m	10.7 m	13.1 m (foldable)
Max Takeoff Weight	~31,800 kg	~27,200 kg	~31,800 kg
Unique Feature	Lightest, cheapest, most agile	STOVL & lift fan	Carrier-optimized, longest range
Countries Using	USAF, Israel, Japan, others	USMC, UK, Italy, Japan (soon)	US Navy

 

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA