Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh on Saturday, 11 October categorically stated that the United States has made no official offer to sell its fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter aircraft to India, dismissing widespread speculation that Washington had proposed the deal and that New Delhi had turned it down. Singh made the clarification at a press conference in Jodhpur, on the sidelines of the concluding ceremony of the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti-2026.

What the IAF Chief Said

Seated alongside the commander of the US Air Force's Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Singh responded to a question about the reported F-35 offer with a pointed remark laced with humour. 'These people don't even let us go near the aircraft, and you are talking about selling it to us,' he said, drawing attention to the restricted access India currently has to the advanced stealth platform.

His statement directly countered media reports suggesting that India had declined a formal American proposal to acquire the F-35. According to Singh, no such formal offer had ever been placed before New Delhi, making the question of rejection moot.

Russia's Su-57 Also Under No Active Consideration

Singh also addressed speculation around India potentially acquiring Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter aircraft. He stated that the Russian offer was yet to be formally considered and that no decision had been taken on the matter. India, he indicated, is continuing to evaluate its future combat aircraft requirements while simultaneously pursuing the development of its own indigenous fifth-generation fighter — a long-term strategic priority aimed at reducing dependence on foreign platforms.

This comes amid India's broader push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing, under which homegrown platforms are being prioritised over foreign acquisitions wherever feasible. The IAF's future fighter roadmap remains a closely watched subject given the force's ageing fleet and the geopolitical complexities of sourcing advanced jets from either the US or Russia.

Tarang Shakti-2026 Wraps Up Successfully

The press conference came at the close of Tarang Shakti-2026, the second edition of the IAF's flagship multinational air exercise, which Singh described as 'a very proud day' for the force. 'It is indeed a very proud day for me today that we are in the final stage of Exercise Tarang Shakti, the second version of it,' he said.

Singh noted that the exercise, which began in 2024 with a planned biennial cadence, had been better timed this year to avoid monsoon-related disruptions. 'Last time we had some disruptions because of weather, so this time the exercise has gone through without any weather disruptions; I'm happy,' he said.

Tarang Shakti-2026 brought together the Indian Air Force and participating air forces from eight nations, serving as a platform for operational cooperation, professional exchanges, and enhanced interoperability among allied forces.

Why This Matters

The IAF chief's denial is significant in the context of India-US defence ties, which have deepened considerably in recent years through frameworks such as the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) and major defence procurement agreements. The F-35 has long been floated in strategic circles as a potential future platform for India, but technology-transfer restrictions and Washington's tight controls over fifth-generation aircraft exports have historically made such a sale complex. Singh's remarks suggest the conversation has not yet reached the level of a formal government-to-government proposal.

With no confirmed offer from the US and Russia's Su-57 also not under active review, India's fifth-generation fighter future appears, for now, to rest on its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme — a project that remains years away from induction.