F-35 for India: U.S. Move Jolts Pakistan, Worries China

In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to bolster military sales to India, including the provision of F-35 stealth fighter jets. This move has elicited concerns from Pakistan, which fears potential disruptions to the regional military balance and the undermining of strategic stability in South Asia.

Pakistan’s concerns

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed deep apprehension regarding the proposed transfer of advanced military technologies to India. A spokesperson from MOFA stated, “Pakistan is deeply concerned over the planned transfer of advanced military technologies to India. Such steps accentuate military imbalances in the region and undermine strategic stability.”

The spokesperson further urged international partners to adopt a holistic and objective perspective on South Asian peace and security issues, cautioning against endorsing positions that are one-sided and deviate from ground realities.

U.S.-India defence collaboration

During a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Trump highlighted the strengthening defense ties between the two nations. He remarked, “Starting this year, we will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We are also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35, Stealth fighters.”

This announcement underscores the deepening strategic partnership between the U.S. and India, particularly in defense and security domains. In response to inquiries about India’s potential acquisition of F-35s, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that the formal procurement process had not yet commenced. He explained, “On military sales to India, there is a process by which platforms are acquired. There is, in most cases, a request for proposals that is floated. There are responses to those. They are evaluated. I don’t think with regard to the acquisition of an advanced aviation platform by India, that process has started yet. So, this is currently something that’s at the stage of a proposal. But I don’t think the formal process in this regard has started yet.”

Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA)

Furthering their defense cooperation, India and the U.S. have launched the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA). This initiative aims to scale industry partnerships and enhance the production of autonomous systems, with a specific focus on underwater domain awareness. The collaboration seeks to foster next-generation defense and technological advancements, reflecting the evolving nature of modern warfare and the emphasis on cutting-edge technology.

Military cooperation

The two nations have also discussed expanding military cooperation across various domains, including air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace. Emphasis has been placed on enhanced training, exercises, and operations that incorporate the latest technologies. A notable upcoming event is the “Tiger Triumph” tri-service exercise, scheduled to be held in India. This exercise is anticipated to be larger in scale and complexity than previous editions, underscoring the commitment of both nations to deepening military collaboration.

Intelligence sharing

In support of overseas military deployments, India and the U.S. have committed to improving logistics, intelligence sharing, and force mobility in the Indo-Pacific region. These efforts fall under the “US-India COMPACT for the 21st Century” initiative, launched by PM Modi and President Trump. The initiative aims to drive change in “Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology” between the two countries, reflecting a comprehensive approach to strengthening bilateral ties.

Extradition of Tahawwur Rana

In a move signaling strong bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism, President Trump announced the approval of the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to India. He stated, “I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters (Tahawwur Rana) and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack to face justice in India. He is going back to India to face justice.”
Pakistani-origin businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana was convicted for his role in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. Rana’s co-conspirators included David Headley, who pleaded guilty and cooperated against Rana.

JSF program overview

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program is the largest procurement initiative within the Department of Defense (DOD). The aircraft, also known as the Lightning II, is being procured in different versions for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.
The U.S. plans to acquire a total of 2,456 F-35s. Hundreds of additional F-35s are expected to be purchased by several U.S. allies, eight of which are cost-sharing partners in the program. The aircraft promises significant advances in military capability but has faced budget overruns and schedule delays.

Congressional debates

The administration’s proposed FY2010 defense budget requested about $10.4 billion in research and development and procurement funding for the F-35 JSF program. This budget included funds for the procurement of 10 F-35As for the Air Force, 16 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and four F-35Cs for the Navy.

Procurement

Past DOD plans have contemplated increasing the procurement rate of F-35As for the Air Force to a sustained rate of 80 aircraft per year by FY2015 and completing the planned procurement of 1,763 F-35As by about FY2034. Plans also called for increasing the procurement rate of F-35Bs and Cs for the Marine Corps and Navy to a combined sustained rate of 50 aircraft per year by about FY2014, with completion by FY2025.

Strategic implications

The proposed sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to India has significant implications for the regional power dynamics in South Asia. Pakistan has expressed concerns that this move could disrupt the military balance and undermine strategic stability in the region. The introduction of advanced military technologies to India may compel Pakistan to seek similar capabilities, potentially leading to an arms race. Moreover, this development could influence Pakistan’s defense strategies and its reliance on alliances with other nations, such as China, to counterbalance India’s enhanced military capabilities.

International perspectives

The international community is closely monitoring the deepening U.S.-India defense collaboration. While some nations view this partnership as a means to promote stability and counterbalance rising powers in the Indo-Pacific region, others are cautious about the potential for escalating tensions in South Asia. The U.S. has emphasized that its defense cooperation with India aims to enhance regional security and is not directed against any specific country. However, Pakistan and its allies may perceive this move as a shift in the regional power equilibrium, prompting them to reassess their strategic postures.

The sky chess

The skies above South Asia will now no longer just be a theater of commercial flights and meteorological patterns; they had become the frontline of an emerging power struggle. The world’s military superpowers had their pieces in motion, each aiming to gain an edge in the aerial chessboard of the modern world.

As these deals materialize, military analysts predict a major shift in global air combat strategy. Would the Indo-Pacific region see an arms race akin to thecold war Cold War? Would the skies over South Asia become a proving ground for the world’s most advanced fighter jets?

One thing is certain—air superiority was no longer just about who had the better aircraft. It was about alliances, technological advancements, and strategic foresight. In this high-stakes game of aerial dominance, nations had to play their cards wisely, for the battle for the skies had just begun.