Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Indian Air Force Chief Challenges US F-35 Access During Exercise
Six American F-35 fighter jets came to India for an air exercise.
India’s air force chief said Indian officials were not allowed to go near the jets or see inside their cockpit.
They were allowed to fly close to the aircraft during the exercise.
The US commander said rules about secret military information control what can be shared.
India is considering what fighter aircraft it might use while its own AMCA jet is still years away.
Russia has offered India its Su-57 fighter, but India has not decided whether to accept.
India is also watching the growth of China’s stealth aircraft fleet.
The discussion is about how India can get advanced aircraft while protecting its own long-term plans.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said US personnel would not let Indian officials approach the F-35, despite discussion of a possible sale.
Six US F-35 Lightning II jets took part in Exercise Tarang Shakti-2026 in India for the first time.
Singh said India was not shown the F-35 cockpit but was allowed to fly in close formation with the jets.
General Kevin Schneider said rules governing classified programme information determine what the United States can share.
Singh confirmed Russia had offered Su-57 fighters, but said India had made no decision.
- Who
- Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin Schneider.
- What
- Singh criticized the limited Indian access to US F-35 jets; Schneider said sharing is governed by programme security rules.
- When
- At the concluding ceremony of Exercise Tarang Shakti-2026, on a Saturday; the article also captions an F-35 takeoff in Jodhpur on October 3.
- Where
- Jodhpur, India.
- Why
- India is considering an interim fifth-generation fighter option while its indigenous AMCA remains years away from induction.
Indian concerns
US security position
Access to the F-35
Indian concerns
Singh questioned discussion of selling the aircraft when Indian officials were not allowed near it or shown its cockpit.
US security position
Schneider said access to information is controlled by programme-level security rules and was not a decision for him personally.
Protecting military technology
Indian concerns
India is exploring options for an interim fifth-generation fighter while its own AMCA is still years from induction.
US security position
Singh acknowledged that countries protect sensitive military technologies, while Schneider described rules governing the protection and sharing of classified information.
- Exercise
- Tarang Shakti-2026
- Location
- Jodhpur, India
- US aircraft
- Six F-35 Lightning II jets participated, marking their first participation in the exercise.
- Access described by Singh
- India was not shown the cockpit but was allowed to fly in close formation.
- US position
- General Kevin Schneider said programme-level security classification guides determine what information can be shared and how it is protected.
- Russian offer
- Russia has offered the Su-57; Singh said no decision had been made.
- India's domestic fighter programme
- The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft remains years away from induction.