The Lockheed Martin F-21 is an India-specific multirole fighter proposal based on the F-16 Block 70/72 and marketed for the Indian Air Force's MRFA requirement. Lockheed and Tata framed the bid around Indian production, F-16 wing work at Hyderabad, and an aircraft configuration with conformal fuel tanks, a large-area cockpit display, APG-83-class AESA radar, probe-and-drogue plus boom refueling compatibility, and promotional carriage of AMRAAM, AIM-9X, Sniper pod, and AN/ALE-50 stores.
Exact model: Lockheed Martin F-21, an India-specific F-16 Block 70/72-derived proposal for the Indian fighter requirement. Public sources reviewed through 2026-07-03 describe proposal and industrial-partnership activity, not procurement, delivery, fielding, or combat use.
The F-21 is best read as a bid configuration rather than a delivered fighter type. Lockheed Martin, Tata Advanced Systems, and later Reuters reporting describe Indian production and MRFA competition activity, while the public record reviewed for this entry does not show F-21 procurement, delivery, fielding, or combat use.
India's 114-aircraft MRFA effort remained active in 2025 reporting, with Lockheed Martin still offering the India-specific F-21 against other fighter candidates.
Tata Advanced Systems describes the proposed F-21 Block 70 partnership as an Indian production, operation, and export opportunity, with existing TASL F-16 wing work as industrial context.
Open sources support a promoted configuration with conformal fuel tanks, large-area display, probe-and-drogue plus boom refueling compatibility, AMRAAM and AIM-9X carriage, Sniper pod, and AN/ALE-50 decoy provision.
Sources: Lockheed Martin F-21 Partnership; F-21 Fast Facts; IAF seeks global bids for 114 multi-role fighters to boost air power; Lockheed Martin Deletes Claim That Its Rebranded F-21 Could Be A Path To Indian F-35s.
The F-21 promotional-video coverage shows outboard underwing pylons able to deploy a towed decoy countermeasure.
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Towed decoy countermeasure | The War Zone reported that Lockheed Martin's F-21 video showed outboard underwing pylons able to deploy the AN/ALE-50 towed decoy; this is proposal-configuration evidence, not fielded service evidence. Sources: Lockheed Martin Deletes Claim That Its Rebranded F-21 Could Be A Path To Indian F-35s |
F-21 promotional-video coverage describes AMRAAM and Sidewinder carriage, but the public reports identify AMRAAM generally rather than a specific AIM-120 subvariant.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Air-to-air missile | Popular Mechanics described the F-21 promotional video as showing AMRAAM missiles on new racks, and The War Zone reported a three-AIM-120 rack arrangement. Sources: Why There's a New American Fighter Called the F-21, Lockheed Martin Deletes Claim That Its Rebranded F-21 Could Be A Path To Indian F-35s |
 | Air-to-air missile | Popular Mechanics reports that the F-21 promo video shows two AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles alongside the AMRAAM loadout. |
Popular Mechanics also describes the F-21 promotional video as showing a Sniper electro-optical targeting pod.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Targeting pod | Popular Mechanics reports that the F-21 promo video shows the fighter carrying a Sniper electro-optical targeting pod. |
Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems announced an F-16 India partnership that framed the industrial background for later F-21 marketing.
Sources: Lockheed Martin, Tata Announce F-16 India Partnership
Lockheed Martin publicly presented the F-21 as a fighter configured for the Indian Air Force and positioned it as a Make in India proposal.
Sources: F-21 | Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin Offers India Upgraded F-16 Fighter Jet
Lockheed Martin and Bharat Electronics Limited signed an MoU to explore industrial opportunities tied to the F-21 programme.
Sources: Lockheed Martin and BEL to explore opportunities in F-21 fighter programme
Reuters reported that India was likely to seek bids for 114 multi-role fighters and that Lockheed Martin was still trying to sell the India-specific F-21 with local-partner manufacturing.
Sources: IAF seeks global bids for 114 multi-role fighters to boost air power
