India-US F-35 Joint Military Exercises

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## Overview US F-35 stealth fighters joined Indian warplanes for military exercises near the Pakistan border, marking the first time America's most advanced multirole combat aircraft has participated in joint drills on Indian soil (SCMP, October 6). ## Key Details - The exercises occurred "in recent days" near the Pakistan border, according to the report (SCMP, October 6). - Sushant Singh, a South Asian studies lecturer at Yale University and former Indian Army officer, said the US jets' participation "signals a degree of military confidence and interoperability that is difficult to manufacture through communiques" (SCMP, October 6). - This development comes amid ongoing debate over whether the US would assist India in a future border crisis with China, and broader questions about US-India defense ties and interoperability. ## Why It Matters This is a significant signal of deepening US-India military cooperation, particularly given F-35 technology sensitivity and prior US reluctance to deploy the aircraft in joint exercises on Indian soil. For those tracking Indo-Pacific security dynamics, US arms sales, and India's strategic hedging between US and Russian defense suppliers, this marks a notable interoperability milestone that could presage future defense agreements, potential F-35 sales discussions, or deeper intelligence-sharing arrangements. ## Entities Involved - United States Air Force / Department of Defense - Indian Air Force - Pakistan (context: border proximity) - Sushant Singh, Yale University