US Exploring Ways to Provide F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets to India, Increase Military Sales: President Trump

In a significant announcement, US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that the United States will be increasing its military sales to India by billions of dollars and his administration is paving the way to provide India with F35 Stealth fighters.

"Starting this year, we will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We are also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F35, Stealth fighters," Trump said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after their bilateral talks.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the most widely-deployed fifth-generation fighter, took part in the 15th edition of Aero India, Asia's biggest aerospace and defence exhibition, at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru earlier this month.

The fighter jet integrates advanced stealth, unparalleled situational awareness and networked combat capabilities.

Earlier in the day, US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The discussions touched upon ways to further deepen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, with a focus on strategic technologies, as well as defense industrial cooperation and civil nuclear energy with an emphasis on small modular reactors, and counterterrorism.

They also discussed international, and regional issues of mutual interest.

At the Aero India, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for the first time, showcased a full-scale model of India's first 5.5 Gen stealth aircraft Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) equipped with cutting-edge features.

The Cabinet Committee on Security had in March last year cleared the project to design and develop the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft fifth generation stealth fighter jet project to be undertaken by the DRDO.

Under the around Rs 15,000 crore project, Defence Research and Development Organisation's Aeronautical Development Agency would develop the stealth fighter jet and its technologies in partnership with various private and public sector agencies and build around five prototypes in around five years.

 

[DS]

Interesting development on F-35 offer, and should be explored fully by IAF officers from ASR directorate.

Continue the hard work on AMCA by IAF / HAL / ADA. The future has to be built at home.

 

[R. Singh]

Russia ditched India over T-50 based FGFA/PMF and India gave list of 43+ improvements over T-50 so we should wait till Russia give TOT with these improvements and buy 90 odd F-35 JSF with source code and 36 F-35B for IAF and IN !

 

[Radium]

Compared to China, India's international environment is significantly more favorable. Countries such as France, Russia, the United States, and Israel all seek to curry favor with India in order to sell them weapons. India has a diverse range of options, eliminating concerns about being held back. Meanwhile, the unfortunate Chinese must rely on domestic weapons production.

 

[arrokade]

Presently, India must go for 02 squadrons of F35 and 02 of Su57. There will be no harm, if US trust failed like 404 engine. F35 delivery will be fast even at no transfer of technology. By the time 5.5 gen. AMCA will be ready. Tezas conditions may repeat with AMCA. Type of running government may influence the Failure or success. Su57 aerodynamics appears to be super, may be weak stealth.