Lockheed Martin will be kept dangling until US is ready to provide India f-35 s with some TOT. Until then India is enjoying trolling uncle.
Meanwhile French have smelled the opportunity if single engine Fighter is cancelled so are helping India with improved LCA Mk1A.
French is not helping in any way for MK1A. Tejas is fully Indian developed. Kaveri engine is getting french help, but that too, only final stage fine tuning which India could have done by itself with some time extension. Parrikar had categorically stated that Kaveri is the key project. Government was willing to increase funding and even set up test facilities. Also, since we had gone very far in developing Kaveri, it was a guarantee that it would be completed, though with delays even if French didn't help.
USA is not going to give F35 with ToT. And India is not going to waste forex buying imports. FOC for AMCA is expected to be around 2030. AMCA development is already in full swing and several technologies are in parallel development. Why would we want to scuttle AMCA development by spending budget on F35? We are not a country with FOREX surplus like China who can buy F35 as well as develop indian AMCA. We have to choose between the two.
Also, considering that Tejas MK2 will be ready by 2025, the MK2 can be mass produced instead of 5th generation fighter for the time being. Even F35 was hit by syrian S200 missile and seriously damaged -
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2017/...-35-warplane-was-hit-by-syrian-s-200-missile/
F35 is not a godly plane. Difference between 4.5 generation and 5th generation os the difference between Iphone 4 and iphone 5. Not that great