NEW DELHI (AP) — The United States has indicated an open government-to-government route for India to acquire Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighters, officials familiar with the discussions said early Saturday.
The overture, conveyed through diplomatic channels within the past four hours, would allow India to bypass traditional foreign military sales restrictions and proceed directly with a potential procurement package.
The development comes as the Indian Air Force pursues a multi-pronged modernization of its fighter fleet, which includes the recently expanded Rafale program and ongoing indigenous projects.
Acquisition of the F-35 would mark India’s first entry into the fifth-generation fighter category, providing capabilities in stealth, sensor fusion and networked operations that exceed those of its current fourth-generation inventory.
No specifics on quantity, cost or delivery schedule have been released. The Indian Ministry of Defence declined immediate comment, while U.S. officials described the pathway as consistent with deepening bilateral defense cooperation.
The F-35 Lightning II is a single-engine, multirole stealth aircraft designed for air superiority, ground attack and electronic warfare missions in high-threat environments.
It features an integrated avionics suite that fuses data from multiple sensors and shares targeting information in real time with allied platforms.
The move, if realized, would open avenues beyond India’s existing platforms and further align the two nations’ strategic interests in the region.
