In a major announcement, US President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that the United States will significantly increase military sales to India by billions of dollars and is taking steps to provide India with F-35 stealth fighter jets.
“Starting this year, we will increase military sales to India by billions of dollars. We are also paving the way to provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” President Trump said during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their bilateral talks.
The F-35 Lightning II, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation fighter jet known for its advanced stealth capabilities, unmatched situational awareness, and networked combat features. The jet was showcased at the 15th edition of Aero India, Asia’s largest aerospace and defense exhibition, held at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru earlier this month.
Trump’s announcement follows growing defense cooperation between the two countries. Earlier in the day, US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz met with Prime Minister Modi to discuss strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Topics included strategic technologies, defense industrial cooperation, civil nuclear energy (with a focus on small modular reactors), and counterterrorism efforts. The discussions also covered international and regional issues of mutual interest.
At Aero India, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) showcased a full-scale model of India’s first 5.5 generation stealth aircraft, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The AMCA is equipped with state-of-the-art features and marks a significant step in India’s indigenous defense capabilities.
In March of last year, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the development of the AMCA, a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet project estimated to cost around Rs 15,000 crore. The DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency will spearhead the project, working with various public and private sector agencies to build five prototypes over the next five years.