IAF chief ribs US general over F-35 at combat drills
A US commander cited security protocols. India is pursuing its own fifth-generation fighter, the AMCA.
Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh expressed frustration over the limited access Indian pilots had to the U.S. F-35 stealth fighter during Exercise Tarang Shakti. During a post-exercise briefing, Singh pointedly remarked to the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) commander, General Kevin B Schneider, that the U.S. never offered India the opportunity to purchase the aircraft despite earlier statements to the contrary.
This came during a 45-minute session with senior air force leaders from around the world, including IAF chief-designate Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit. Schneider clarified that access restrictions were due to security protocols governing advanced weapon systems, acknowledging that such decisions ultimately resided with higher echelons.
The exercise marked the first time F-35s operated in India, and while the U.S. deployed six aircraft to Jodhpur, New Delhi continues to pursue its plans for an indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter, the AMCA.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
