Will the IAF’s future plans include US F-35s?

• The fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) of Russia and the U.S., the Su-57 and F-35, were displayed at the Aero India airshow in Bengaluru.
• U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would increase military sales to India by billions of dollars and provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters.
• The announcement has sparked speculation in India about the possible procurement of the jet for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that a formal process for military procurement has not yet begun.
• The F-35 is a tri-service, multinational, single-seat, single-engine strike fighter aircraft expected to be in service by the 2080s.
• The F-35 presents significant challenges in India’s military architecture, which is a mix of Indian, Russian, French, Israeli, and other systems.
• The F-35 is a single-seater aircraft, contrary to the IAF’s preference for twin-seater jets.
• The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A project, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, and the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender for the acquisition of 114 foreign jets to be manufactured in India under license are currently in the pipeline.
• The F-35 will bring with it stringent U.S. regulations and oversight.