US President Donald Trump declared that the United States would boost military sales to India by billions of dollars and open the door to supplying India with F-35 stealth fighters during a joint news conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump highlighted the expanding collaboration between the two countries and hailed India as a crucial strategic partner.
With this agreement, India would be able to join a select few nations that possess cutting-edge stealth aircraft.
According to Trump, the United States will be spending billions more on military supplies for India. The two nations, who are both looking to expand security cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, have strengthened their defense ties, as evidenced by this announcement.
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning-II is a multipurpose stealth fighter that is used inby a number of countries for air combat operations. There are three different versions of it: the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C.
The most extensively used fifth-generation fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning-II, participated in the 15th Aero India, Asia’s largest aerospace and defense show, held at Bangalore’s Yelahanka Air Force Base.
Lockheed Martin is the developer of the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning-II. It possesses supersonic speed, sophisticated sensors, cutting-edge stealth technology, and a combination of precision-guided bombs and air-to-air missiles. The jet comes in three different varieties:
The possible purchase of F-35 stealth fighters has the potential to greatly modernize and improve India’s air force’s aerial capabilities. Adding the F-35 to the Indian Air Force (IAF) would strengthen India’s position as a major regional security actor and give it a platform that rivals in the region cannot match. The IAF’s operational capability could be improved and the “stealth gap” could be swiftly filled by acquiring about 40 F-35s and their weapons, according to Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd).
India’s air force, which has historically depended on a combination of Russian and Western defense technology, is about to undergo a significant modernization with the purchase of the F-35. It is anticipated that the arrival of F-35s will improve India’s aviation capabilities. The F-35 is regarded as one of the most deadly, resilient, and interconnectedfighter aircraft with advanced sensors, information fusion, and adaptable communication channels in the world.In addition to being a plane, the F-35 is a strategic deterrent that gives the IAF a significant advantage. The confidence of pilots operating Chinese J-20 or J-35A fighters would “evaporate overnight” if India were to acquire the F-35, analysts say.
With China already equipped with J-20 fighters and Pakistan possibly purchasing J-35 stealth jets from China, India would be able to close the stealth gap as quickly as possible by acquiring the F-35.
By acting as a force multiplier, the F-35A might strengthen the IAF’s standing as the region’s leading air force.vGiven that Pakistan has acquired its own advanced fighter capabilities and China has reportedly deployed its own stealth platform, some military experts think that the IAF could benefit greatly from acquiring the F-35.
India would join Israel, Japan, and NATO allies as the only nations operating the aircraft if the deal is approved.
