India’s S-400 deal clouds prospects for F-35 acquisition

India’s acquisition of Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defence system is complicating its ambitions to join the US-led F-35 fighter jet program, raising concerns about the interoperability of the two systems.

Following his re-election, US President Donald Trump had expressed interest in boosting military sales to India, including the possibility of future deals involving the advanced Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

However, India’s deployment of the Russian-made S-400—a sophisticated surface-to-air missile system—poses a significant obstacle. Washington and NATO officials have warned that operating the S-400 alongside the F-35 could jeopardize the security of the stealth aircraft.

Türkiye faced a similar fate after procuring the S-400, leading to its removal from the F-35 program. Ankara remains excluded, with few options to regain access without abandoning the Russian system.

Under a $5.4 billion contract signed in 2021, India is set to receive five S-400 squadrons. Three have already been delivered and are active in northwest and eastern India, strategically positioned against threats from China and Pakistan. The fourth and fifth squadrons, delayed by the Ukraine conflict, are now expected by 2026 and 2027. At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Qingdao, Russian officials reaffirmed their commitment to supplying additional S-400 systems to India.

“India is an exceptionally important strategic partner for us. It is a long-standing and trusted friend, including in the military and technological domains,” Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov said after talks with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Despite pressures from the West, India remains Moscow’s largest customer for military hardware, even as it pushes to bolster its own domestic arms industry. The S-400 has already played a critical role during India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, reportedly intercepting missiles, drones, and downing a surveillance aircraft.

The S-400, launched in 2007 as an evolution of the S-300, boasts advanced missile technology capable of engaging targets up to 400 kilometres away and speeds six times that of sound. Its radar system, Kremlin sources claim, can even track US fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 Raptor, underscoring NATO’s concerns about compatibility with Western jets.

As India continues to balance its defense partnerships, the S-400 deal casts a long shadow over its F-35 acquisition plans, signaling ongoing strategic complexities between New Delhi, Moscow, and Washington.

By Vafa Guliyeva