Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 10: India has received no official US offer for the F-35, says IAF chief AP Singh. Russia has offered the Su-57, but evaluation awaits a government decision. India’s fighter plans remain open.
India’s search for a fifth-generation fighter jet remains undecided. Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh clarified where things stand. Washington has made no official offer for the F-35, he said. Moscow has offered the Su-57. But the government has not decided whether the IAF should evaluate it.
Singh spoke to reporters in Jodhpur on Saturday, 10 October 2026. The press conference marked the close of the multinational exercise Tarang Shakti-2026.
A blunt answer on the F-35
The F-35 is an American fifth-generation stealth fighter. Reports had suggested a possible sale to India. Singh was asked about them while seated beside a senior US commander. That officer heads the US Air Force’s Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).
“We didn’t get any official offer,” Singh said. He then added a pointed remark about access to the jet. “Your people don’t even let us go near the aircraft,” he said. He questioned how a sale could be discussed in those circumstances.
The comment addressed speculation, not a formal policy position. It does not mean India has rejected the F-35. Nor does it show Washington has withdrawn any proposal. Without an official offer, there is simply nothing to assess.
Su-57 waits on New Delhi
The Russian position is different. Singh confirmed the IAF has been told of a Russian Su-57 offer. However, the government has not decided whether the aircraft should be assessed. Singh said evaluation would follow only after government direction. The IAF would then judge how well the jet meets its requirements.
The distinction matters. An offer is only a starting point. An evaluation would examine operational suitability. Neither step amounts to a decision to buy. Any acquisition would require a separate government decision. The IAF cannot move to evaluation on its own.
Home-grown ambitions
India is also developing its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The effort is part of a wider push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. It forms part of the country’s long-term combat aviation planning.
Foreign aircraft and domestic development are separate policy questions. Considering one does not rule out the other. Any foreign jet would still need to meet operational requirements. Singh offered no technical comparison between the two foreign fighters.
Diplomacy in the background
Tarang Shakti-2026 brought together the IAF and air forces from eight nations, including India. The exercise aimed to improve operational cooperation between participating forces. It also allowed professional exchanges among their personnel. It was a training exercise, not a procurement forum.
What remains open
For now, India’s fifth-generation fighter jet options remain open. There is no official American offer to consider. Russia’s proposal awaits a government call on evaluation. Meanwhile, India continues to pursue an indigenous fighter. The next move rests with the government, not the air force.
