India Rejects F-35 After Trump’s 25% Shocker, To Now Go With Putin’s Su-57? Misadventure Costing US?
In a dramatic turn of geopolitical and defense policy developments, India has reportedly declined a highly anticipated deal to purchase American F-35 stealth fighter jets after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 25% tariff on Indian goods. The move, seen as a retaliatory economic measure, appears to have triggered a decisive pivot in India’s military procurement strategy—away from American defense offers and toward deeper collaboration with Russia, including the co-production of the fifth-generation Su-57 stealth fighters.
This development underscores the complex web of strategic, economic, and diplomatic calculations that guide New Delhi’s defense policy, particularly in the context of great power competition between the U.S. and Russia. It also reaffirms India’s long-standing emphasis on strategic autonomy and indigenous military capability through its “Make in India” initiative.
The Tariff That Changed Everything
The turning point came in July 2025 when Donald Trump, during his renewed presidential campaign and a surprise rally in Ohio, announced a 25% tariff on Indian exports. Framing it as a protectionist measure to support American jobs, Trump’s tariff decision sent shockwaves through Indian economic and political circles.
Just months earlier, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, the U.S. had proposed a landmark deal involving the sale of the F-35 Lightning II—a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter aircraft regarded as one of the most advanced in the world. The deal, touted by some as a symbol of deepening U.S.-India strategic ties, was expected to be a cornerstone of their defense cooperation.
However, Trump’s tariff salvo upended that trajectory. According to sources close to India’s Ministry of Defence, the government viewed the sudden imposition of tariffs as a breach of diplomatic trust. It prompted a reevaluation of defense procurement options and reinforced the necessity of minimizing dependence on foreign platforms that come with restrictive strings and fluctuating geopolitical loyalties.
India’s Strategic Recalibration: Exit F-35, Enter Su-57
India’s rejection of the F-35 is not merely a political rebuke. It represents a broader strategic calculus shaped by operational needs, cost considerations, and the desire for greater technological sovereignty.
While the F-35 offers advanced capabilities in stealth, networking, and avionics, Indian officials reportedly raised concerns about the platform’s exorbitant costs, lack of technology transfer, and restrictive end-use monitoring clauses. Moreover, acquiring F-35s would require a significant overhaul of India’s current maintenance and training ecosystem.
By contrast, Russia’s Su-57 “Felon”—its answer to the F-35—has emerged as a more attractive proposition. Although the Su-57 has faced development challenges and has not yet entered mass production, Moscow’s offer includes co-production in India, technology transfer, and flexible financing, all aligned with New Delhi’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) campaign.
In recent talks, Russia is said to have proposed joint development agreements that would allow India to manufacture Su-57s domestically, using Indian components and talent. This echoes the model of the BrahMos missile project, a highly successful Indo-Russian joint venture. For Indian defense planners, this not only reduces foreign dependency but also enhances industrial capability and employment.
A Reflection of Strategic Autonomy
India’s decision must be viewed through the lens of its long-standing policy of non-alignment and strategic autonomy. Even as India grows closer to the U.S. via forums like the Quad (with Japan and Australia), it maintains strong defense ties with Russia, its traditional arms supplier.
India operates a diverse fleet of fighter jets from France (Rafale), Russia (Sukhoi Su-30MKI, MiG-29), the U.K., and domestically made aircraft like the Tejas. This multi-vendor approach helps India avoid over-reliance on any single country, mitigating the risk of geopolitical coercion.
With the rejection of the F-35, India is signaling to the world that while it values its defense partnerships with the West, it will not compromise on its policy priorities—particularly when faced with perceived economic strong-arming. Trump’s tariff move may have unintentionally deepened India’s wariness about future U.S. reliability as a defense partner.
Operational Realities and Regional Tensions
The timing of this defense decision is also driven by operational urgency. India’s Air Force currently operates around 31 squadrons, far below the sanctioned strength of 42 needed to deal with potential two-front threats from China and Pakistan. With aging aircraft like the MiG-21 being phased out, the need to induct advanced fighters is pressing.
While the Su-57 is still undergoing trials in Russia and has not been exported widely, Indian officials believe that co-developing the platform could tailor it to Indian requirements over the next decade. This would also fill capability gaps until India’s indigenous AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) project matures.
Implications for Global Defense Dynamics
India’s pivot away from the F-35 toward the Su-57 carries broader implications. It reflects the growing rift between protectionist American policy under Trump and the expectations of strategic partners. It also demonstrates how nations like India are increasingly charting independent courses rather than choosing sides in U.S.-Russia or U.S.-China rivalries.
For Russia, this is a diplomatic and economic win. By offering terms more favorable than the U.S., Moscow has reinforced its relevance in Asia’s defense marketplace. If the co-production deal proceeds, it would also mark the Su-57’s first major export success—potentially altering the global stealth aircraft competition.
India’s rejection of the F-35 and embrace of the Su-57 co-production proposal signals more than just a defense policy shift—it’s a clear assertion of sovereignty in both economic and strategic realms. Faced with sudden tariffs from a supposed partner, India has chosen not to buckle but to redirect its defense ambitions in a direction that offers greater control, self-reliance, and long-term sustainability.
While the final contours of the Su-57 deal remain to be negotiated, one thing is certain: India will not be cornered into making defense decisions under duress. Instead, it will continue to assert itself as a rising power that charts its path based on principle, pragmatism, and national interest.
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