India has told U.S. officials that it is not interested in purchasing the F-35 stealth fighter, despite growing pressure from Washington to expand its defense imports, according to a recent report from Bloomberg.
Officials familiar with the matter, cited anonymously due to the sensitivity of the discussions, said the Modi government is unlikely to proceed with any major new defense acquisitions from the U.S. in the near term, despite Washington’s ongoing efforts to secure additional high-value contracts.
The topic reportedly came up during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House in February, when President Donald Trump personally offered the F-35 as part of a broader strategic and defense partnership.
Instead, Indian officials indicated that New Delhi remains committed to a defense procurement model that emphasizes technology sharing, local manufacturing, and indigenous capability development.
“The government is more interested in a partnership focused on jointly designing and manufacturing defense equipment domestically,” one official told Bloomberg.
The F-35 proposal was part of a broader push from Washington to deepen defense-industrial ties with India, which has steadily increased purchases of U.S. platforms in recent years, including the MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. However, the Modi administration appears to be drawing a line at acquiring high-end platforms without clear offsets or domestic production roles.
Meanwhile, Russia has stepped in with a fresh proposal that appears more aligned with India’s priorities. In July, Moscow offered a two-pronged fighter jet package: the Su-57E fifth-generation stealth fighter and the Su-35M multirole air superiority aircraft. The proposal was submitted by Russia’s state defense conglomerate Rostec and aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi.
According to sources familiar with the talks, Russia’s offer includes full technology transfer for the Su-57E, with domestic assembly at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Nashik facility—where over 220 Su-30MKI jets have already been built. The localization rate could reach up to 60%, allowing India to integrate indigenous systems such as the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Rudram anti-radiation missiles, and the Virupaksha AESA radar.
The Russian plan reportedly includes initial deliveries of 20 to 30 Su-57E fighters within three to four years, with full-scale local production ramping up thereafter. A total of 70 to 100 aircraft could be delivered into the early 2030s.
In parallel, Moscow has proposed the Su-35M as a faster-track option to replenish the Indian Air Force’s declining squadron strength. According to Rostec, the aircraft shares up to 80% component commonality with the Su-30MKI, which could simplify logistics, maintenance, and pilot retraining.
For now, New Delhi’s rejection of the F-35 offer signals a clear preference for programs that combine operational capability with strategic industrial benefits. As one official told Bloomberg, “Buying is not enough—we want to build.”