United States Exhibits Contrasting Approaches to F-35 Sales for S-400 Users Turkey and India

The United States’ decision to provide India with the advanced fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets starkly illustrates its evident “Double Standards.” This move by Washington serves as a prominent example of the superpower’s inconsistency in foreign policy and military partnerships, despite its denials of such discrepancies.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced, “We will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We are also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighter,” during a press briefing.

This announcement followed a meeting between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House just days prior. However, the question arises: why is the proposal to sell F-35 jets to India perceived as hypocritical? The answer is rooted in India’s use of Russia’s long-range S-400 “Triumf” air defense system.

In contrast, when NATO ally Turkey sought to acquire the S-400 from Russia, it faced immediate and severe U.S. military sanctions. Washington swiftly retaliated by expelling Türkiye from the F-35 development program and halting its plans to obtain these advanced stealth fighters. This strong response came after Türkiye finalized a deal with Moscow in 2017 for the S-400 system, a decision that alarmed NATO and incited U.S. discontent.

Notably, Turkey had been a valued participant in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program since 2002, with aspirations of establishing a formidable air force for the future.

As a second-tier partner in the F-35 program, Ankara made significant investments, intending to acquire at least 100 F-35A jets to enhance its air power. However, this ambition was ultimately dashed, leaving Turkey sidelined and its aspirations of operating the world’s most advanced fighter jet thwarted by a stringent response from Washington.

Turkey had already committed an impressive $1.6 billion to the F-35 initiative, convinced it was securing a position among the elite air forces globally. Instead of taking to the skies, six fully assembled F-35s, originally intended for Turkey, now remain neglected in hangars, their pilots never to take flight. The repercussions from Washington extended beyond this, as the U.S. not only expelled Turkey from the F-35 program but also imposed severe military sanctions under the CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) due to Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 defense system.

What began as a partnership devolved into an ultimatum, leaving Türkiye with nothing but a profound sense of betrayal. In sharp contrast, India has not faced any military sanctions from Washington for its purchase of the same Russian S-400 system. Instead, the U.S. has actively encouraged India to acquire F-35 fighter jets.

The disparity in treatment between Türkiye and India is striking.

In October 2018, India and Russia finalized a $5.43 billion agreement for the procurement of five S-400 missile systems. The initial delivery reached India by the end of 2021, with subsequent units set to be delivered in phases.

This raises the question: why is the United States prepared to offer the F-35 to India, despite its utilization of the Russian S-400 system, which was the very reason Türkiye was excluded from the F-35 program? Turkey faced a ban on its F-35 purchase due to its acquisition of the S-400, while India, which also operates this system, is being considered as a potential buyer for the advanced fighter jet. The contrast is notable.

As India’s domestic defense sector confronts the significant task of developing its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the stakes are exceptionally high. Concurrently, Pakistan, India’s longstanding rival, is set to introduce two next-generation fighters—the Turkish KAAN and China’s J-35A—in the near future.

In this context, Trump’s proposal to provide India with the advanced F-35 represents a pivotal shift, one that New Delhi is likely to welcome enthusiastically.

However, the contest for air superiority in India remains unresolved. Lockheed Martin and the U.S. face stiff competition from Russia, India’s traditional defense ally, which is vigorously promoting its own fifth-generation fighter, the Su-57 Felon. Furthermore, Russia has enhanced its offer by proposing local production of the Su-57 in India, a strategy reminiscent of the successful Su-30MKI program that solidified Moscow’s role in the Indian Air Force.

Currently, India operates more than 270 Su-30MKI fighter jets, which form the core of the Indian Air Force (IAF), with 250 of these aircraft manufactured locally by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The rivalry between the U.S. F-35 and Russia’s Su-57 for India’s defense market will be a compelling narrative to follow in the years ahead.