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India Says U.S. Has Not Offered Any F-35 Jets

By Drooid · Oct 11, 2026, 4:27 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Singh Denies F-35 Offer

Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said the United States has not offered India any F-35 fighters.
He noted Russia offered its Su-57 stealth fighter but India has not decided whether to evaluate it.
Six U.S. Air Force F-35A jets and more than 200 personnel joined Exercise Tarang Shakti-2026 in Jodhpur.
Singh said any decision on evaluating the Su-57 will depend on how well it meets India’s operational requirements.

Summary

IAF Hosts Tarang Shakti

Indian Air Force celebrated its 94th anniversary during the Tarang Shakti-2026 exercise at Hindon Air Station.
The second edition of Tarang Shakti hosted the IAF and seven foreign nations.
A seminar titled “Central Role of Air Power in the Evolving Battlespace” was held alongside the exercise.
Operation Sindoor in 2025 saw the IAF launch air strikes within four days, destroying enemy installations across the border.

History

Historical Context

In 1998, following the Kargil War, India purchased 40 French Mirage 2000 fighters for roughly $1.2 billion, reshaping its air-defence posture. The deal involved Dassault Aviation, the Indian Ministry of Defence, and a financing agreement with the French government, delivering aircraft by 2000. That procurement mirrors today’s Tarang Shakti-2026 exercise, where the United States fields F-35A jets and Russia proposes the Su-57 to meet India’s evolving operational needs. The 1998 acquisition demonstrated how foreign fighter deals can alter regional balance, foreshadowing future strategic choices that will shape South Asian air power for decades.

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Singh Denies F-35 Offer

Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said the United States has not offered India any F-35 fighters.
He noted Russia offered its Su-57 stealth fighter but India has not decided whether to evaluate it.
Six U.S. Air Force F-35A jets and more than 200 personnel joined Exercise Tarang Shakti-2026 in Jodhpur.
Singh said any decision on evaluating the Su-57 will depend on how well it meets India’s operational requirements.

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