This week, six American F-35A fighters are stationed on a flight line in Rajasthan and the presence of the aircraft has been seen in New Delhi, Beijing and Islamabad as more than a training visit. The US Embassy says the jets have their maiden operational sortie in Indian airspace at Tarang Shakti 2026 and believes that stealth, sensors, and data sharing would enable the Indian Air Force and its partners to train together. Ambassador Sergio Gor said that six aircraft and over 200 airmen have arrived, compared to the initial report of two or three aircraft.

The reason for this is explained in the history. The F-35 has never been displayed at Bengaluru air shows and flown into India for a military exercise, although the IAF did fly with the F-35 during Pitch Black in Australia in July. Just two years ago it was different. Washington would be sending F-16s and A-10s, not the most advanced jet, to the first edition, an Indian Air Marshal said. There was something different in the meantime, and it wasn't just the flight schedule.

The drill is a large size. The 40 countries participating include eight with aircraft and 32 as observers and the event extends until October 12. Seven Rafales have been brought by France and a senior French officer called India a global strategic partner. F-16s from the UAE are participating, as are aircraft from Germany, Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The entire drill is the drill for Veer Guardian between India and Japan, which is also conducted at the same base.

The Air Force sees the value in the immediate. Indian pilots have reportedly been provided hands-on experience in detecting and tracking low observable aircraft using Rafale, Tejas and Su-30MKI aircraft. That's important because the threat is real. China has deployed the J-20 stealth fighter near the India border and is selling the J-35A to Pakistan. By 2027 Pakistan may receive its first batch and by 2029 as many as 40. Even if the stealth force was small, it would tie up Indian fighters. It's a lot easier and less expensive to learn how a fifth-generation jet works than it will be if the time comes when you really need to.

The IAF doesn't have much to spare. It is currently flying 29 squadrons, whereas the sanctioned squadrons are 42. In February, the stopgap worth more than $35 billion, known as Rafales, was approved in principle, and France had officially offered to buy them in August. That deal has hit a snag over Paris keeping control of the source code for the radar and electronic warfare suite. The long-term solution is the indigenous AMCA, but this is expected to occur around 2035.

Which leads to the obvious question: Will India purchase the F-35? The short answer today is likely not. President Trump has indicated his interest in selling, but India's reliance on the S-400 is in conflict with the U.S. sanctions law and export restrictions. However Turkey had to learn this the hard way, as they were kicked out of the programme in 2019 for purchasing the same system. The other issue is money. The F-35A is estimated to cost about $80 million per copy before spares, maintenance and training and would be a supply and support agreement with no technology transfer, according to analysts. Rafale, on the other hand, is equipped with a plan to manufacture up to 60 percent of its value in the country, which comprises an engine manufacturing facility at Hyderabad and a maintenance facility close to Jewar. That's a different proposition for a nation seeking employment and skill, in addition to planes.

It also has a trading background. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in the US from September 29 to October 5 and will meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss an interim trade agreement. In 2024, two-way trade in goods and services reached $212.3 billion and the U.S. goods deficit was $45.8 billion. Under the framework agreed to in February, the US would impose lower tariffs if India increases its buying of American energy, defence and technology goods.

However, one trade-services company reports that the previous emergency tariffs were lifted in February, and that a 10 percent Section 301 duty has been in effect since July 24, and an intermediate agreement text has yet to be released. Defence is one of the very few big, visible items which India can buy from Washington. It's not a coincidence, either, that F-35s park in Jodhpur as ministers discuss tariffs, nor that no one in either capital will admit to it.

India is a rare country, seen from afar. To date, some 1,400 F-35s have been produced, while Turkey and Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been after the jet for years. Despite being able to say no, India can be courted and has alternatives from France, Russia, the United States and from its own factories. It is not short of partners, either, having toiled towards a free trade agreement with the EU and attached to that a defence accord in January.

The wise thing to do is to learn and retain the cheque. The exercise provides the IAF with a free look into stealth tactics and also provides the government of Delhi its leverage in the trade talks, without it having to commit to a fleet it may not be able to fit in. For India, what is not allowed is drift. The more the Rafale paper hangs open, the bigger the squadron gap becomes and the concept of strategic autonomy is far from indecision.