Daijiworld Media Network - Jodhpur
Jodhpur, Oct 11: Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh has said the United States has not made any official offer to sell its fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to India, while no decision has been taken on evaluating Russia’s Su-57 aircraft.
Singh made the remarks during a press conference on Saturday on the sidelines of the concluding ceremony of the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti-2026 in Jodhpur.
Responding to a question about the F-35, Singh said India had not received an official offer from the United States. In a light-hearted remark, he pointed out that Indian officials were not even being allowed close to the aircraft during the exercise, despite discussions about its possible sale to India.
“Official offer nahi aaya hai F-35 ka,” Singh said, clarifying that no formal proposal had reached the Indian Air Force.
On Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, Singh said the IAF had received information about Moscow’s offer but had not decided whether to evaluate the aircraft.
“We have heard that they have offered it, but no decision has been taken yet on whether we need to check it or not,” he said.
Singh added that once a decision is communicated to the Air Force, it will assess the aircraft’s capabilities against India’s operational requirements. He noted that information about the Su-57 was available in the public domain and that the IAF’s current understanding was based on open-source material.
The remarks indicate that neither aircraft has reached the stage of a formal evaluation or final decision by the Indian Air Force. The government’s decision on whether to assess the Russian fighter remains pending.
The developments come as India continues to assess its future combat aircraft requirements while pursuing the development of an indigenous fifth-generation fighter as part of its broader defence self-reliance efforts.
Tarang Shakti-2026 brought together the Indian Air Force and air forces from seven other countries to strengthen operational cooperation and facilitate the exchange of professional experience. The exercise provided participating forces an opportunity to interact and share expertise in a multinational setting.