Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)

Growing chorus in India for 2 squadrons of F-35A stealth fighters as Pakistan joins Turkish KAAN and China fielding 150 J-20 5th gen fighters

China has built more than 150 J-20 stealth fighters while on the other hand after procuring Turkish armed drones, both Pakistan and Azerbaijan have joined Turkey’s KAAN 5th generation fighter program that will conduct its first flight in December this year, which means that both the adversaries will be operating a 5th generation fighter well before India.

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The larger number of AWACS and 5th generation fighter jets of the adversaries will surely pose a formidable challenge to the Indian Air Force as the first AMCA indigenous 5^th generation stealth fighter will roll out by September 2026 and first flight in 2027 only, if the project sanction is granted by September this year, which has again sparked discussions whether India should procure at least two squadrons of F-35A from the United States to counter this move.

The United States has already shown its willingness to sell F-35 to India by bringing the jet to the last edition of Aero India last year, garnering speculation about the possible offer by the US to India for F-35 which hasn’t happened but Lockheed Martin officials has already hinted possibility of F-35 deal with India, but that completely lies with India whether it wants the jet or not as integrating it with other fighters in the IAF’s inventory will be a difficult task, but as the threat of large number of 5^th generation stealth fighters supported by a large number of AWACS fleet looms over India, it is the right time to take a bold decision to go for at least 2 squadrons of F-35A from the United States as the relations between the two countries is at the topmost level right now and the US will be willingly supply the jet to India without any restrictions. Growing chorus in India for 2 squadrons of F-35A stealth fighters Growing chorus in India for 2 squadrons of F-35A stealth fighters Growing chorus in India for 2 squadrons of F-35A stealth fighters IgMp