Trump’s F-35 offer to Saudi may hurt India, How can it counter fighters with AMCA, Su-57 if Riyadh lends these to Pakistan?

The fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the F-35, could change air power dynamics. (File Image)

US President Donald Trump, in his meeting with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, reiterated his decision to sell fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, F-35s, to Riyadh. It is sure to give goosebumps to many, including those in India. Trump offered to sell Lockheed Martin warplanes during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February, a month after he was sworn in. Now, if the fighter jet reaches Pakistan, it is likely to upset India and disrupt its defense preparations.

What is F-35?

It is a family of stealth fighter jets developed by Lockheed Martin. It is designed to avoid detection by radar and other technologies. It can take off and land on a normal runway or aircraft carrier. Its ability to land like a helicopter and take off from a very short distance makes it a good option for operating on very short runways. The F-35’s weapons and fuel are housed inside the jet’s fuselage to maintain its stealth capabilities. It can attack enemy defenses and warplanes before they even take off. It is very useful in establishing air superiority in any conflict.

It could prove to be a game-changer in any air strike, as it represents a paradigm shift in how air power is used. It places less emphasis on speed and more on identifying threats first. It also shares this information across the force and coordinates attacks with other assets. In addition, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Japan, Israel, South Korea and Sweden also have F-35 warplanes. Saudi Arabia will be the last country to receive it.

F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia may be interested in purchasing the fifth-generation fighter jet for use in its war against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Although the conflict is currently on the back burner, it has not yet been resolved and could escalate again at any time. Likewise, Riyadh is trying to improve its relations with Iran, but Tehran is still an enemy country because of Israel. The Israel Defense Forces has a variant of the F-35 fighter jet that could pose a threat to Saudi Arabia in any conflict and cannot be ignored in the future.

Saudi-Pakistan Defense Agreement

Fifth-generation supersonic warplanes have gained unexpected importance for India after Pakistan signed a defense agreement with Riyadh. The Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September this year includes a collective defense article. It is stated that an attack on one will be considered an attack on both, and it aims to strengthen joint deterrence through mechanisms such as intelligence sharing, joint military committees, and expanded training. In other words, Riyadh may supply or lend F-35 fighter jets to Pakistan in a possible India-Pakistan conflict.

Chinese stealth fighter jet J-20

Speaking to this correspondent in an exclusive chat, defense expert Colonel (Retired) Sanjeet Sirohi emphasized the need for a stealth fighter jet for India. He pointed out that China’s Chengdu J-20 is a twin-engine, all-weather stealth fighter aircraft that can be equipped with a PF long-range missile. But given its superior avionics, the F-35 is better than the Chinese stealth fighter. Additionally, since the fuel load of the Chengdu J-20 is larger, it cannot be used in air-to-ground attacks.

Su-57 and F-35

He also said that the Russian-made Su-57 has better range and speed than the F-35 jets. He pointed out that the Su-57 has a speed of 2,137 km, while the F-35 has a speed of 1,931 km. Secondly, the Su-57 has a range of 1,900 km, while the F-35 has a range of 1,500 km. Third, the Su-57 is a twin-engine aircraft, while the F-35 is a single-engine fighter aircraft. Explaining the economy, Sanjeet Sirohi said that the Russian stealth fighter jet is much cheaper than the F-35. While the US stealth fighter jet costs between $80 million and $110 million, depending on the model, the Russian fighter jet costs nearly half that. However, Sukhoi 57 had an accident in 2019, after which most countries acted cautiously.

Should India buy F-35?

But many problems make the F-35 less attractive, at least for India. First, Russia is ready with the fighter jet and can deliver the Su-57 at any time, whereas it could take years or even a decade for the US to deliver the aircraft to India. This is an important factor because China has had stealth fighter jets since 2017. Sanjeet Sirohi states that Washington will not give India the technical know-how or the license to produce the aircraft because it is against its own policies. On the other hand, Russia can easily transfer the technology and license to production, and the stealth fighter jet can be produced in the factory in India where the Su-30 is planned to be produced.

AMCA project India

Sirohi also talked about the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). He said that single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, fifth-generation stealth, multi-role fighter aircraft are currently only on paper in practical terms. AMCA will be developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization. It can be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited only after passing all kinds of tests. Sanjeet Sirohi said it would take at least a decade for the first AMCA to be rolled out. Considering the Chinese threat, it would be in India’s interest to purchase the Su-57 now and develop the stealth fighter jet.