China’s J-35 for Pakistan revives F-35 case for India despite New Delhi’s reluctance, say experts

As Pakistan is moving closer to acquiring China’s J-35 stealth fighter, some American strategic experts believe the development could strengthen the case for the United States to eventually offer its F-35 Lightning II to India.While no such proposal is currently under consideration, analysts at leading American think tanks argue that a Pakistani J-35 fleet could strengthen the strategic case for equipping India with a fifth-generation fighter as part of the broader US effort to counter China’s growing military influence in the Indo-Pacific.India’s own position also remains a key factor in the debate. According to a Bloomberg report, New Delhi has informed US officials that it is not interested in acquiring the F-35 stealth fighter despite Washington’s interest in expanding defence exports to India.Instead, the Indian government is said to favour partnerships centred on technology transfer, joint development and domestic manufacturing under its ‘Make in India’ initiative.According to analysts from the Stimson Center, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Pakistan’s potential induction of the Chinese J-35 should be viewed not merely as a development in the India-Pakistan military balance, but as part of China’s broader strategic expansion in the Indo-Pacific.They argue that the deployment of the J-35 in the Pakistan air force would deepen defence cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad while extending the operational reach of Chinese fifth-generation air power into South Asia.The aircraft, which recently made its public debut at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, would serve to extend the footprint and operational capabilities of Chinese military aviation right into South Asia.The analysts also note that India’s indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is still several years away from entering service, leaving the Indian Air Force without an operational fifth-generation fighter.Because of this shifting dynamic, some US observers believe Washington might drop its historical hesitation about selling highly sophisticated warplanes to India. United States has been highly protective of the jet’s classified technologies, such as its stealth features, advanced sensor networks, complex mission software, and electronic warfare capabilities.F-35 and J-35The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is widely regarded as the world’s most advanced operational fifth-generation stealth fighter. Designed as a multirole combat aircraft, it combines low-observable stealth, advanced sensor fusion, electronic warfare capabilities and network-centric operations.The aircraft has been combat-tested and is in service with the United States and more than 20 allied nations, making it one of the most extensively deployed fifth-generation fighters.On the other hand, Shenyang J-35, developed by China, is a fifth-generation stealth fighter designed for both the People’s Liberation Army and the export market. Like the F-35, it is intended to perform air superiority and precision strike missions while incorporating stealth features and advanced avionics.However, unlike the F-35, the J-35 is still in the early stages of induction, and its full operational capabilities remain largely untested in combat. If Pakistan proceeds with the reported acquisition, it would become the first foreign operator of the Chinese stealth fighter.The RoadblocksDespite the strategic arguments in favour of an F-35 offer, analysts say several major obstacles would have to be overcome before such a deal could materialise.The biggest challenge is India’s continued operation of Russian-origin military equipment, particularly the S-400 Triumf air defence system and the Su-30MKI fighter fleet.US officials have consistently maintained that integrating the F-35 with advanced Russian systems could pose security risks by potentially exposing the aircraft’s highly classified stealth technologies, mission systems and electronic warfare capabilities.Another hurdle is the F-35’s unique operational ecosystem. The aircraft relies on the US-controlled Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN), which manages logistics, maintenance, software updates and mission data.Joining this ecosystem requires strict compliance with American security protocols, something analysts believe may not align with India’s long-standing policy of strategic autonomy and diversified defence procurement.While the F-35 could provide the Indian Air Force with an immediate fifth-generation capability, some analysts warn that a large import could divert funding and industrial focus away from the AMCA, which remains central to India’s long-term goal of achieving self-reliance in advanced fighter aircraft.