India's Air Chief Quips at US: No F-35 Offer, 'Can't Even Get Near the Jet'

India's Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh recently revealed that the United States has not made any official offer to sell its advanced F-35 fighter jet to India, despite previous talks and the F-35's debut in a joint exercise on Indian soil. Speaking at the close of the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti-2026, Singh humorously told US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin Schneider, 'Your people don't even let us go near the aircraft, and you are talking about selling it to us.' This comes as India grapples with modernizing its air force and closing a widening 'capability gap' in the region. The IAF chief's remarks highlight the complex dance in US-India defense ties, particularly around sensitive military technology like the F-35 stealth jet. The F-35s just finished their first operational training in India as part of Tarang Shakti-2026, an exercise aimed at improving interoperability with various air forces. Meanwhile, India is also considering Russia's Su-57 fighter aircraft and pushing its own Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program to boost self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The US has strict export controls, making technology transfer difficult, especially for countries with existing ties to rivals like China and Russia, a factor that likely impacts the F-35 sale. Looking ahead, India's government still needs to decide whether to formally evaluate the Su-57, keeping its options open for acquiring fifth-generation fighter aircraft as China and Pakistan rapidly expand their own stealth fighter fleets. The ongoing discussions and India's focus on indigenous development mean the path to acquiring these advanced jets will remain a key area to watch in regional geopolitics and defense strategy, balancing relationships with both the US and Russia.