Donald Trump's Offer Of F-35 Fighter Jet To India: A Game-Changer For India's Defence Sector?

The United States, during the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and American President Donald Trump, made a landmark offer to supply India with the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. This proposal has sparked significant interest in New Delhi, as the F-35 is hailed as the most lethal, survivable, and connected fighter aircraft in the world. "We'll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We're also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters," Trump told reporters.

The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter renowned for its ability to operate undetected at supersonic speeds. It boasts advanced electronic warfare systems, open architecture, sophisticated sensors, and exceptional information fusion capabilities. These features allow the jet to detect and engage targets at long ranges, making it a formidable asset in modern aerial combat. The F-35 is not exclusive to the United States. It has been embraced by numerous allied nations, making it a truly global asset: Australia operates 72 F-35A jets. The United Kingdom, Italy, and Norway are program partner nations that have integrated the F-35 into their fleets. Through the US Department of Defence’s Foreign Military Sales program, Japan, South Korea, and Israel have also placed orders for the aircraft. If India accepts this offer, it would become the first non-NATO and non-Pacific US ally to incorporate the F-35 into its arsenal, a move that could significantly reshape its air combat capabilities. Watch this report to know more.