You don't let us near F-35s: IAF chief's remark with US commander beside him

Speaking alongside US Pacific Air Forces chief General Kevin Schneider, AP Singh said Washington had made no official offer to sell F-35 jets to India, quipping, "Your people don't even let us go near the aircraft, and you are talking about selling it to us."IAF chief AP Singh made the remark while sharing the stage with General Kevin Schneider, Commander of US Pacific Air Forces.Jodhpur,Oct 11, 2026 11:36 ISTIndian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh took a swipe at the United States’ F-35 programme on Saturday, saying American personnel do not even let Indian officials near the stealth fighter jet, even as Washington is reportedly discussing its sale to India.Singh made the remark while sharing the stage with General Kevin Schneider, Commander of US Pacific Air Forces, at a press conference on the sidelines of the concluding ceremony of the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti-2026 in Jodhpur.Responding to a question about whether the US had made an official offer to sell its fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to India, Singh said, “Your people don't even let us go near the aircraft, and you are talking about selling it to us.”VIDEO | Rajasthan: Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said the United States had made no official offer to sell F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets to India, while also clarifying that no final decision has been made on the Russian proposal for Su-57 fighter aircraft. Singh revealed this while addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the concluding ceremony of the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti-2026 in Jodhpur. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 10, 2026The IAF chief clarified that the US had made no official offer for the F-35, with his remark drawing attention to the reported proposal in the presence of the senior American commander. Singh also addressed the possibility of India acquiring Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter aircraft, saying that a Russian offer had come to the IAF’s notice but no decision had been made on whether the aircraft should be evaluated.“Once the decision is conveyed to us (by the government), we will evaluate how well it (Su-57) meets our requirements,” he said. The remarks come as India assesses its future combat aircraft requirements and pursues the development of an indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft as part of its long-term plans to strengthen self-reliance in defence manufacturing.Tarang Shakti-2026 brought together the Indian Air Force and participating air forces from eight nations, including India, offering a platform for operational cooperation and the exchange of professional experience.- Ends