Aero India 2023: US 5th gen F-35 fighter makes first landing in India

Some quarters believe arrival of the F-35s in Yelahanka could be a signal that Washington was positioning an American fighter to win an ongoing IAF tender for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft

US F-35 fighter
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US Air Force (USAF) F-35 fighter

Ajai Shukla New Delhi
Sending a wave of excitement through the crowds at the Aero India 2023 exposition outside Bengaluru, two US Air Force (USAF) F-35 fighters – arguably the world’s most advanced fifth-generation fighters – landed at the Yelahanka air force base and parked without fanfare in the static display area, sending the spectators into a frenzy of selfie-clicking.

There had been rumours before Aero India 2023 that an F-35 might overfly the air show as a gesture of solidarity and support from the US military. But the landing by two F-35s and a crisp statement from the US government came as a surprise to most.

“The USAF’s newest fifth-generation fighters – the stealthy, supersonic, multirole F-35A Lightning II and F-35A Joint Strike

First Published: Feb 13 2023 | 3:59 PM IST

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