Tag: CAATSA

F-35 for India?
The F-35 Lightning II offered a thrilling display of aerobatics at Aero India 2023, but here's why the fifth generation stealth fighter doesn't make sense for India

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II displays at Aero India 2023 | Photo: Ministry of Defence

The acquisition of the S-400, differing points of view on the war in Ukraine, eye-watering costs, a domestic 5th gen fighter program and never having operated any U.S. fighter aircraft are some of the reasons why India can’t and shouldn’t consider the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

India’s VSHORAD program off flight path
Defence ministry faces problematic result after 20 years of shopping around

Even after two decades since the acquisition case, the Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) search has seen a system absent from trials and failing trials, being passed as technically compliant and ending up as, apparently, the cheapest. Also problematic is the difficulty its purchase could pose by provoking U.S. sanctions under their CAATSA.