Trump Offers F-35 Jet to India in Push for More Defense Deals

[Ginvincible]

Trump Offers F-35 Jet to India in Push for More Defense Deals​

Nick Wadhams | February 13, 2025​

President Donald Trump said the US would offer the F-35 warplane to India as part of a bigger commitment to deepen defense ties.

The US will increase sales of military hardware to India by “many billions of dollars,” Trump said at a joint White House press conference alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening.

“We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” the president said.

President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi Hold News Conference | Bloomberg​

Any such move would be a long way off and could face serious obstacles given that India already has deep defense ties with Russia, and the US has been loathe to sell the F-35 to countries where its technology might be stolen by adversaries.

A sale would also be complicated by India’s decision in 2018 to buy Russia’s S400 missile defense system. The US had previously scrapped F-35 co-production with Turkey after that country decided to buy the S400 over fears Russia would learn too much about the plane’s technology


Still, it amounts to the latest US salvo to weaken the country’s close military ties with Russia. Successive American presidents including Trump in his first term promised more weapons contracts

“In our meeting today, the prime minister and I reaffirmed that strong cooperation among the United States, India, Australia and Japan, and it’s crucial really, to maintaining peace and prosperity tranquility, even, in the Indo Pacific,” Trump said.

His announcement also suggests continued confidence in the costliest American weapons system, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp., which has been derided by Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and a close Trump adviser. “Some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35” in an age of drones, he said.

Then-Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall defended the aircraft. “The F-35 isn’t going away” as it’s “a state of the art system that’s continuously being upgraded,” Kendall said during an Air Force Association webcast. “There’s a reason so many countries are buying the F-35,” he said of its 19 international customers. “There is no alternative to that in the near term. We should continue to buy it.”


The Modi government has intensified defense ties with the US as it proceeds with a 10-year, $250 billion military modernization.

Last year, the US approved the sale of nearly $4 billion in attack drones, Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs to India, as the Biden administration looks to chip away at the country’s long-time defense ties with Russia.

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Source: Bloomberg via MSN

See Also:

 

[Hydra]

Trump Offers F-35 Jet to India in Push for More Defense Deals​

Nick Wadhams | February 13, 2025​

President Donald Trump said the US would offer the F-35 warplane to India as part of a bigger commitment to deepen defense ties.

The US will increase sales of military hardware to India by “many billions of dollars,” Trump said at a joint White House press conference alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening.

“We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” the president said.

View attachment 40436
President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi Hold News Conference | Bloomberg​

Any such move would be a long way off and could face serious obstacles given that India already has deep defense ties with Russia, and the US has been loathe to sell the F-35 to countries where its technology might be stolen by adversaries.

A sale would also be complicated by India’s decision in 2018 to buy Russia’s S400 missile defense system. The US had previously scrapped F-35 co-production with Turkey after that country decided to buy the S400 over fears Russia would learn too much about the plane’s technology


Still, it amounts to the latest US salvo to weaken the country’s close military ties with Russia. Successive American presidents including Trump in his first term promised more weapons contracts

“In our meeting today, the prime minister and I reaffirmed that strong cooperation among the United States, India, Australia and Japan, and it’s crucial really, to maintaining peace and prosperity tranquility, even, in the Indo Pacific,” Trump said.

His announcement also suggests continued confidence in the costliest American weapons system, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp., which has been derided by Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and a close Trump adviser. “Some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35” in an age of drones, he said.

Then-Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall defended the aircraft. “The F-35 isn’t going away” as it’s “a state of the art system that’s continuously being upgraded,” Kendall said during an Air Force Association webcast. “There’s a reason so many countries are buying the F-35,” he said of its 19 international customers. “There is no alternative to that in the near term. We should continue to buy it.”


The Modi government has intensified defense ties with the US as it proceeds with a 10-year, $250 billion military modernization.

Last year, the US approved the sale of nearly $4 billion in attack drones, Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs to India, as the Biden administration looks to chip away at the country’s long-time defense ties with Russia.

=====================================================================================================================
Source: Bloomberg via MSN

See Also:

So it's happening . Grab that with out a second thought.

 

[Ginvincible]

So it's happening . Grab that with out a second thought.

It really is the only 5th generation option (that can be acquired in reasonable numbers anyway) available to India for the next 15+ years. I am curious if they opt for F-35Bs instead of the F-35A. Has IAF ever operated an aircraft that had so much foreign scrutiny over its use? Navy is more directly tied to US-India defense partnership anyway.

I wonder how Trump will sell the fact that he is selling F-35s to India, which operates the S-400 and is not even a non-Nato ally, when he blocked sales to Turkey.

 

[Parthu]

“We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” the president said.

While it's good that the F-35 offer is finally, officially on the table - the above quote is the operative line.

It'll all depend on what 'paving the way to ultimately provide' means. Because this could either mean having to purchase F-21, F-15EX or F/A-18SH before getting the F-35...or it could simply mean having to get rid of the S400 (maybe replaced with THAAD/Patriot combo, but let's not assume). Or perhaps both.

I would hope it's just the latter. With Project Kusha/ERADS going ahead, we have a way to supplant the S400 capability set in the foreseeable future with indigenous alternatives. So junking the S400 (which I have serious doubts about btw) could be relatively straightforward though it would mean we wasted $6B.

The former (or a combination of both former & latter) could be much more tricky. Procuring either F-21 or F-15EX will mean shooting the potential of the Tejas Mk2 and Super-MKI programs in the foot, respectively. I'm not a fan of sacrificing either of these programs. The F-21 doesn't really offer any capability that the Tejas Mk2 can't provide, so it's pointless. While the new-build F-15EX is certainly more capable in several regards than the MKI UPG, it wouldn't be significantly more capable (save for the engines). So that too is hard to justify given the cost.

That leaves us with the F/A-18 SH Block-3.

If we have to sacrifice something anyway in order to not cede the look-first, shoot-first advantage to PAF/PLAAF for the next 15 or so years, then I prefer that we sacrifice the Rafale-M instead of indigenous programs.

We've already evaluated the SH under MRCBF so that'll save some time. The production line has been extended till 2027 anyway.

The only question is, will the small 26-plane MRCBF order be enough to satisfy Trump to pave the way for the F-35? Hopefully, we can balance that out by procuring additional systems elsewhere (more P8, Chinook, Apache, etc. it's also possible NASAMS is back on table).

Another way to sweeten the deal would be a combined F-35A + F-35B procurement (and cancel TEDBF, that's one program I'm willing to sacrifice, because it's so irredeemably ill-conceived to begin with).

EDIT: If the 26 F/A-18 aren't enough, might as well get IAF to order a couple or so squadrons off the shelf as well. It'll kill off any possibility of more Rafales but that's the price of not signing a follow-on deal for nearly 9 years.

 

[Hydra]

It really is the only 5th generation option (that can be acquired in reasonable numbers anyway) available to India for the next 15+ years. I am curious if they opt for F-35Bs instead of the F-35A. Has IAF ever operated an aircraft that had so much foreign scrutiny over its use? Navy is more directly tied to US-India defense partnership anyway.

I wonder how Trump will sell the fact that he is selling F-35s to India, which operates the S-400 and is not even a non-Nato ally, when he blocked sales to Turkey.

I am for 114 mrfa,preferablyRafale+ additional F35A for IAF. We do have money for such procurement.

 

[Sathya]

I am for 45 F35 to Navy + 26 Rafale M changed to 36 Air force Rafale ( base accommodations paid for )

USA needed prerequisites - Chinooks, KC tanker , even the C 130j production line - we are used to operating it. Maintenance base is on cards + Tata qualified

I am willing to sacrifice non US imports .
But 110 KN Engine partner cannot be sacrificed .

 

[Hydra]

While it's good that the F-35 offer is finally, officially on the table - the above quote is the operative line.

It'll all depend on what 'paving the way to ultimately provide' means. Because this could either mean having to purchase F-21, F-15EX or F/A-18SH before getting the F-35...or it could simply mean having to get rid of the S400 (maybe replaced with THAAD/Patriot combo, but let's not assume). Or perhaps both.

I would hope it's just the latter. With Project Kusha/ERADS going ahead, we have a way to supplant the S400 capability set in the foreseeable future with indigenous alternatives. So junking the S400 (which I have serious doubts about btw) could be relatively straightforward though it would mean we wasted $6B.

The former (or a combination of both former & latter) could be much more tricky. Procuring either F-21 or F-15EX will mean shooting the potential of the Tejas Mk2 and Super-MKI programs in the foot, respectively. I'm not a fan of sacrificing either of these programs. The F-21 doesn't really offer any capability that the Tejas Mk2 can't provide, so it's pointless. While the new-build F-15EX is certainly more capable in several regards than the MKI UPG, it wouldn't be significantly more capable (save for the engines). So that too is hard to justify given the cost.

That leaves us with the F/A-18 SH Block-3.

If we have to sacrifice something anyway in order to not cede the look-first, shoot-first advantage to PAF/PLAAF for the next 15 or so years, then I prefer that we sacrifice the Rafale-M instead of indigenous programs.

We've already evaluated the SH under MRCBF so that'll save some time. The production line has been extended till 2027 anyway.

The only question is, will the small 26-plane MRCBF order be enough to satisfy Trump to pave the way for the F-35? Hopefully, we can balance that out by procuring additional systems elsewhere (more P8, Chinook, Apache, etc. it's also possible NASAMS is back on table).

Another way to sweeten the deal would be a combined F-35A + F-35B procurement (and cancel TEDBF, that's one program I'm willing to sacrifice, because it's so irredeemably ill-conceived to begin with).

Any mmrca contenders except Russian jets & probably Gripen too will be superior to Tejas MK2, if F16 purchase kills mk2 then Rafale purchase also should kill mk2.
Yeas we really wasted that money on s400,no doubt on that.
And no FA 18 SH won't be offered in mmrca.

 

[South block]

This is once in a lifetime opportunity..... F 35 is a beast, even a blinded man can see it. Go for it without a thought.

 

[Speedster1]

Trump hai to F-35 mumkin kin hai. But he'll demand his pound of flesh. The IN has an upcoming LHD requirement and the INS Jalashwa is too old.

4 America-class flat-tops with a complement of 12 F-35B each for a total of 48 should be a great buy. (We should probably throw in another 12-24 for the Vikrant as well). Nobody does amphib operations like the Americans anyway. This should open up a path to an EMALS+ F-35C equipped IAC-3 in due course.

The Rafale-Ms we're about to order could be converted into F4 versions for the IAF. But S-400 ka kya kare? Russia won't be too happy if we put it up for sale.

 

[TARGET]

This is once in a lifetime opportunity..... F 35 is a beast, even a blinded man can see it. Go for it without a thought.

The F-35 is definitely a great product, and it will give a greater edge over Chinese 5th-gen fighters. Again… What is the number and money we are planning to invest, and what is the ROI of this deal? We need to see... If it's a one-way deal, then I don't think India will go for it. We will expect returns like employment or TOT and strategic autonomy; it's a long way to go from here ... But I believe we should concentrate more on MK2 and AMCA delivery timelines. The US deep state is notorious for changing its stance on India, and Trump will not be there for India every time.

 

[marich01]

This is once in a lifetime opportunity..... F 35 is a beast, even a blinded man can see it. Go for it without a thought.

That is the thing , if you go for something without any thought you will certainly find yourself in same position as pakistan or ukraine. Then the question comes how much are you willing to sell yourself for. As it stands , Pak has no problem eating off usa china saudi turkey hands (as well as ISIS / Al-Q like terrorist orgs) because they have zero moral or not afraid of selling themselves up, which is why each of those 4 countries see some use in Pak and continue to feed them. Would you be willing to do that ?

As for the actual product, something that needs activation code just to start it for flying, I do not even want to imagine what would happen during wartime with a military product when we have very specific example of denial of a dual use service during wartime in the past.

 

[Lolwa]

While it's good that the F-35 offer is finally, officially on the table - the above quote is the operative line.

It'll all depend on what 'paving the way to ultimately provide' means. Because this could either mean having to purchase F-21, F-15EX or F/A-18SH before getting the F-35...or it could simply mean having to get rid of the S400 (maybe replaced with THAAD/Patriot combo, but let's not assume). Or perhaps both.

I would hope it's just the latter. With Project Kusha/ERADS going ahead, we have a way to supplant the S400 capability set in the foreseeable future with indigenous alternatives. So junking the S400 (which I have serious doubts about btw) could be relatively straightforward though it would mean we wasted $6B.

The former (or a combination of both former & latter) could be much more tricky. Procuring either F-21 or F-15EX will mean shooting the potential of the Tejas Mk2 and Super-MKI programs in the foot, respectively. I'm not a fan of sacrificing either of these programs. The F-21 doesn't really offer any capability that the Tejas Mk2 can't provide, so it's pointless. While the new-build F-15EX is certainly more capable in several regards than the MKI UPG, it wouldn't be significantly more capable (save for the engines). So that too is hard to justify given the cost.

That leaves us with the F/A-18 SH Block-3.

If we have to sacrifice something anyway in order to not cede the look-first, shoot-first advantage to PAF/PLAAF for the next 15 or so years, then I prefer that we sacrifice the Rafale-M instead of indigenous programs.

We've already evaluated the SH under MRCBF so that'll save some time. The production line has been extended till 2027 anyway.

The only question is, will the small 26-plane MRCBF order be enough to satisfy Trump to pave the way for the F-35? Hopefully, we can balance that out by procuring additional systems elsewhere (more P8, Chinook, Apache, etc. it's also possible NASAMS is back on table).

Another way to sweeten the deal would be a combined F-35A + F-35B procurement (and cancel TEDBF, that's one program I'm willing to sacrifice, because it's so irredeemably ill-conceived to begin with).

EDIT: If the 26 F/A-18 aren't enough, might as well get IAF to order a couple or so squadrons off the shelf as well. It'll kill off any possibility of more Rafales but that's the price of not signing a follow-on deal for nearly 9 years.

The only way we get the f-35's is setting up a production plant f-16blk70's, f-15ex and blk3 superhornets. The US wants to outsource and offload defence production of earlier gen american hardware to India. This is entirely because of the shortage ukraine has experienced. They need someone who can produce in bulk. Korea is just not it in terms of capacity in long term. We could basically become an outsourcing ground for American weapon manufacturing.
Possibly
F-16blk70/F-21
F-15EX
Blk III SH
THAAD
Patriot
Stinger
Javelin
+ Other systems are being offered for joint production. The entire play is to do a Ukraine in the future but be prepared. The west lost in Ukraine. The Russians gave them a reality check that although Nato is more advanced it just doesn't have the quantity to sustain a war with powers like Russian China Iran and NoKo

 

[Hydra]

Trump hai to F-35 mumkin kin hai. But he'll demand his pound of flesh. The IN has an upcoming LHD requirement and the INS Jalashwa is too old.

4 America-class flat-tops with a complement of 12 F-35B each for a total of 48 should be a great buy. (We should probably throw in another 12-24 for the Vikrant as well). Nobody does amphib operations like the Americans anyway. This should open up a path to an EMALS+ F-35C equipped IAC-3 in due course.

The Rafale-Ms we're about to order could be converted into F4 versions for the IAF. But S-400 ka kya kare? Russia won't be too happy if we put it up for sale.

If he insist for LHD & F35B,i will call him as the best defense minister India had in last 20 years.

 

[Fatalis]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1890258347775213661

 

[randomradio]

It really is the only 5th generation option (that can be acquired in reasonable numbers anyway) available to India for the next 15+ years. I am curious if they opt for F-35Bs instead of the F-35A. Has IAF ever operated an aircraft that had so much foreign scrutiny over its use? Navy is more directly tied to US-India defense partnership anyway.

F-35B sucks. Even the Marines are cutting its numbers down. We cannot reliably use it in the Himalayas anyway.

I wonder how Trump will sell the fact that he is selling F-35s to India, which operates the S-400 and is not even a non-Nato ally, when he blocked sales to Turkey.

The S-400 was just used an excuse to stop the delivery of F-35s to Turkey after the American-led coup on Erdogan failed.

After having extracted their pound of flesh, after Syria fell basically, Turkey is now allowed to deploy the S-400 alongside the F-35. Apparently, all the claimed technical issues have magically disappeared.

 

[Speedster1]

If he insist for LHD & F35B,i will call him as the best defense minister India had in last 20 years.

The US may have reservations over any F-35B sold to India operating from a Mistral or JC-1. While new-build America class will be expensive, the recently retired Tarawa-class LHDs might be worth a look.

You can be sure they are far better maintained than a certain rust bucket called Admiral Gorshkov. For the cost of a refurb+ a couple of Phalanx CIWS, we could have a fleet of decent amphib + ASW command ship.

 

[South block]

That is the thing , if you go for something without any thought you will certainly find yourself in same position as pakistan or ukraine. Then the question comes how much are you willing to sell yourself for. As it stands , Pak has no problem eating off usa china saudi turkey hands (as well as ISIS / Al-Q like terrorist orgs) because they have zero moral or not afraid of selling themselves up, which is why each of those 4 countries see some use in Pak and continue to feed them. Would you be willing to do that ?

As for the actual product, something that needs activation code just to start it for flying, I do not even want to imagine what would happen during wartime with a military product when we have very specific example of denial of a dual use service during wartime in the past.

Your 5th generation fighter will fly on US engine...... Trump is a Kremlin asset & yes F 35 is worth more than all the social media 5d defence exfart opinion.

 

[Kiduva21]

Regarding the S400, can we suggest a geographical separation.
We currently don't need F35 to fight Pakistan So move all S400 to counter pak
Deploy the F-35 in bases facing china
we may have to get THAAD/PAC3/NASAAMs/Barak8/Akash to defend those bases.
China already have s400 so effectiveness of S400 against china is like fingers crossed. why not go for a full western systems?

this is for peace time, a war will change everything.

 

[randomradio]

It'll all depend on what 'paving the way to ultimately provide' means.

MRFA obviously. But it won't work out the way Trump hopes it will. Only Rafale and Typhoon are worthy of being shortlisted.

So junking the S400 (which I have serious doubts about btw)

Yep, never gonna happen.

That leaves us with the F/A-18 SH Block-3.

Boeing's offering F-15EX to India.

If we have to sacrifice something anyway in order to not cede the look-first, shoot-first advantage to PAF/PLAAF for the next 15 or so years, then I prefer that we sacrifice the Rafale-M instead of indigenous programs.

Totally different requirement.

Hopefully, we can balance that out by procuring additional systems elsewhere (more P8, Chinook, Apache, etc. it's also possible NASAMS is back on table).

Yeah, alternatives. Stryker, more P-8s and Guardians. More Apaches and Chinooks coming up too. And Romeos too. All this is worth $15-20B. It's enough.

NASAMS is dead to us. So are the Patriot and THAAD. There was talk of the US entering India's BMD program, but they haven't done anything of the sort yet. I don't think they can offering anything the Israelis haven't already. And our missiles are all indigenous. We are already flight testing P2 and working on P3, so it's too late.

But space stuff remains an option. NISAR could give birth to more advanced capabilities.

Another way to sweeten the deal would be a combined F-35A + F-35B procurement (and cancel TEDBF, that's one program I'm willing to sacrifice, because it's so irredeemably ill-conceived to begin with).

That will derail the IN's indigenization plans, which is much more important than the IAF's in the long term.

EDIT: If the 26 F/A-18 aren't enough, might as well get IAF to order a couple or so squadrons off the shelf as well. It'll kill off any possibility of more Rafales but that's the price of not signing a follow-on deal for nearly 9 years.

The SH isn't suitable in a fight against China. The SH B3 has already been rejected during MMRCA, and it's not seen any significant new developments since then, so it's practically impossible for it to meet any new requirement. So this will not happen either. None of the Teens are good enough.

Although Trump has now offered the F-35, it's still unrealistic as it stands today. TR-3 is already delayed and the engine upgrade is meant for 2029+, which will definitely see more delays. It will take until 2033 to get the jet fully up to spec and any induction can happen only from 2035. So, as far as the IAF is concerned, the jet is not even close to being ready, regardless of the mistake some of the Europeans made by committing too early.

Plus the IAF is not going to let the Americans, Russians, and the domestic lobby derail their 20-year procurement plan set up in 2022; LCA, MRFA, and AMCA. So whatever that 'ultimately' is, it's not gonna happen under Trump's current administration anyway.

Btw, MRFA is gonna begin soon. We will hopefully see it signed in 2030, alongside the start of Mk2's production. And then, the IAF will look at the current progress of AMCA and Ghatak before deciding on a stopgap measure. By then, both F-35A and a more stealthy Su-60 will be ready for production, alongside the Mig-41 and NGAD. So then they can pick and choose what fits if they think AMCA alone won't cut it. So there's not going to be anything else on the horizon for the next 5 years.

 

[randomradio]

Regarding the S400, can we suggest a geographical separation.
We currently don't need F35 to fight Pakistan So move all S400 to counter pak
Deploy the F-35 in bases facing china
we may have to get THAAD/PAC3/NASAAMs/Barak8/Akash to defend those bases.

That sort of separation is not realistic.

If the US puts some sort of block on the F-35 sale 'cause of S-400, then the IAF will simply not buy it.

China already have s400 so effectiveness of S400 against china is like fingers crossed.

That doesn't affect either side.

why not go for a full western systems?

Too expensive. A single Patriot battery costs $2.5B for 128 missiles, not counting integration cost. It also comes with just 1 radar, a second reserve can be added to it, and 8 launchers.

An S-400 regiment with 2 battalions costs $1B for 128 Patriot-class missiles, and also comes with long range 250 and 400 km missiles. It comes with as many as 8 radars with 16 launchers.

For the price of a single Patriot battalion, 4-6 batteries, you can buy 5 S-400 regiments and still have money left over for 83 LCA Mk1As. And that's what we did.