India may take Rafale route to buy US' F35 fighter jets: Govt likely to opt for limited numbers; may require special monitoring clauses

India is considering acquiring fifth-generation fighter jets from the US in a government-to-government deal, similar to the Rafale jets acquisition from France. This could serve as a temporary solution until the development of indigenous jets under the Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft program. The procurement of F35 jets may be limited due to high costs, with potential complications arising from US safeguards to protect advanced technology. End-user monitoring protocols may also be required to prevent unauthorized access to the jets. The presence of Russian S400 air defense systems in India has been a concern for the US, as the F35 jets are designed to evade such systems.

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