At the conclusion of a major air exercise, the Indian Air Force’s top officer turned to the gathered reporters with a smile. Standing beside the commander of the US Pacific Air Forces, he let a humorous comment slip out that drew chuckles from the crowd. The tone was playful, but the underlying message carried weight for anyone watching India’s fighter jet deliberations.
The occasion was the wrap‑up of the Tatparigti‑2026 air exercises held in Jodhpur. On 2026‑10‑11, after the drills ended, Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh called a media briefing. The presence of General Kevin Schneider, the head of US Pacific Air Forces, added an extra layer of attention to the exchange, underscoring the bilateral context in which the remarks were made.
Singh’s quip went straight to the heart of a long‑standing perception: “You don’t even let our plane come near… so how can we say we will shoot them down?” The line, delivered with a grin, highlighted the difficulty of getting close enough to an F‑35 in a simulated engagement.
He stated unequivocally that India has not received any formal proposal from the United States for the sale of the F‑35.
After the laughter subsided, the air chief moved to clarify the factual situation. He stated unequivocally that India has not received any formal proposal from the United States for the sale of the F‑35. The comment was not a rejection of the aircraft itself, but a statement of the current state of negotiations—or lack thereof—between New Delhi and Washington on that particular platform.
Turning to another option that has been discussed in defence circles, Singh confirmed that the Russian Su‑57 fighter aircraft offer is currently under consideration. He stressed, however, that no final decision has been made on the Su‑57.
The most emphatic part of the briefing came when Singh laid out India’s overriding priority. He emphasized that the nation’s strategic focus remains the development of its own indigenous fifth‑generation fighter aircraft.
As of the media briefing on 2026‑10‑11, the picture is clear: Washington has not tabled a formal F‑35 offer, the Russian Su‑57 is still under review with no decision yet, and India’s leadership continues to back an indigenous fifth‑generation programme. The exchange, marked by a joke and a series of plain‑spoken updates, captures the cautious, deliberative tone that characterises India’s approach to acquiring its next generation of combat aircraft.