4 hrs ago
IAF Chief Says US Made No Formal F-35 Offer
India’s air force chief spoke about two advanced fighter jets.
He said the United States has not officially offered to sell India its F-35.
He joked that Indian officials are not allowed near the aircraft.
Russia has made an offer involving its Su-57 fighter.
India has not decided whether to study that plane.
The air force will assess it if the government asks.
Singh spoke in Jodhpur at the end of an international air exercise.
India is also pursuing plans to develop its own advanced fighter.
Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said the United States had made no official offer to sell F-35 fighter jets to India.
Singh joked that US personnel do not let Indian officials get near the F-35.
He said Russia had made an offer involving its Su-57 fighter, but no decision has been made on whether to evaluate it.
The IAF would assess the Su-57 against its requirements if the government directs it to do so.
Singh spoke in Jodhpur at a press conference held alongside the closing ceremony of Tarang Shakti-2026.
- Who
- Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh.
- What
- Singh said there was no official US offer to sell F-35s to India and no decision on whether to evaluate Russia’s Su-57.
- Where
- Jodhpur, India.
- When
- Saturday, October 10; the reports identify the event as Tarang Shakti-2026.
- Why
- The remarks addressed India’s future combat aircraft requirements and whether to evaluate the Su-57.
Key facts
- US F-35 offer
- Singh said the United States had made no official offer to sell F-35s to India.
- Russian Su-57 offer
- Singh said an offer involving Russia’s Su-57 had come to the IAF’s attention.
- Evaluation decision
- No decision had been made on whether the Su-57 should be evaluated.
- Potential next step
- The IAF would assess how well the Su-57 meets its requirements if the government directs it to.
- Event
- The press conference took place alongside the concluding ceremony of Tarang Shakti-2026.
- Exercise participation
- Tarang Shakti-2026 brought together the Indian Air Force and air forces from eight nations, including India.
- India’s fighter plans
- The reports say India is pursuing development of its own fifth-generation fighter as part of plans to strengthen defence self-reliance.
Quotes
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh
Chief of the Indian Air Force
“Once the decision is conveyed to us (by the government), we will evaluate how well it (Su-57) meets our requirements.”
deccanchronicle.com
firstpost.com
theprint.in
“Your people don't even let us go near the aircraft, and you are talking about selling it to us.”
deccanchronicle.com
firstpost.com
theprint.in
Sources
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