US Offers F-35 Fighter Planes To India

US President Donald Trump while jointly addressing the press with PM Modi said Washington will be “increasing” military sales to India, which includes Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighters.

Trump announces plans to increase U.S. military sales to India, including F-35 stealth fighter jets.

Source : Lockheed Martin

Modi In US: U.S. President Donald Trump Friday said Washington is going to focus on increasing military sales to India “by many billions of dollars” including selling American fighter jets F-35 to India manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

"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 F-35 Stealth fighters,” President Trump said in a joint press conference with PM Modi at the White House.

This comes at a time when the U.S. has sent F-35 fighter jets to India for the ongoing ‘Aero India’ show organised by the Ministry of Defence that is underway at the Yelahanka Air Force station in Bengaluru.

During his meeting with Modi, Trump repeatedly said he is going to increase the sale of military equipment to India.

Prime Minister Modi said the United States plays a crucial role in India’s defence preparedness. He also said India and the U.S. will focus more deeply on joint development, joint production with a special focus on transfer of technology.

Modi also said “We are moving together on joint development, joint production and technology transfer.” He added both countries will now establish an ‘Autonomous System Industry Alliance’ which will be part of the Defence Cooperation Framework 2025-2035.

Defence trade between India and the U.S. reached $20 billion in 2020 from near zero in 2008.

U.S.-India defense sales are facilitated through both the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) processes. Some of the recent defence sales from the US to India includes MH-60R Seahawk helicopters ($2.8 billion), Apache helicopters ($796 million), and the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure ($189 million). 

India was the first non-treaty partner to be offered a Missile Technology Control Regime Category-1 Unmanned Aerial System – the Sea Guardian UAS manufactured by General Atomics.

On Quad, President Trump said, “In 2017, my administration revived the Quad security partnership, and in our meeting today, the PM and I reaffirmed the strong cooperation between the US, India, Australia and Japan, and it is crucial really to maintain peace, prosperity, tranquillity in the Indo-Pacific.”

Modi said this time India will be hosting the Quad Summit this year for which Trump will be visiting the country.

He also said India and the U.S. will work together in initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and I2U2 apart from greater cooperation on Lithium and rare earth minerals.