During a joint statement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, the US announced its intention to increase sales of military hardware to New Delhi by millions of dollars, including the possible supply of F-35 stealth fighter jets.
"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 F-35 stealth fighters," Trump said. The offer comes even as Russia, which has been the major weapons supplier to the country, has reportedly offered to make the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 in India for the Indian Air Force.
The offer also comes even as India's fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is expected to be inducted into the force only by 2035.
Incidentally, Lockheed Martin F-35, known as the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, had taken part in the recently-concluded Aero India-2025 in Bengaluru where it faced off with its Russian fifth-gen counterpart Su-57. The F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, which enthralled the audience at the event, is Lockheed Martin's most widely-deployed fifth-generation fighter, which integrates advanced stealth, unparalleled situational awareness and networked combat capabilities, according to Indian defence ministry.
This was the first time Aero India witnessed the participation of two of the world's most advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft, equipped with stealth capabilities.
Reports suggest that Su-57 was more impressive at the jaw-dropping midair manoeuvres.
READ MORE: Battle of fifth-gen fighters: Russian Su-57 stands out with stellar performance against US F-35
In the wake of the remarks by Trump, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was asked about the possibility of India procuring the fifth-generation stealth fighter from the US. He replied saying, “There is a process by which platforms are acquired. There is, in most cases, a request for proposals that is floated. There are responses to those. They are evaluated. I don't think with regard to the acquisition of an advanced aviation platform by India, that process has started as yet.”
“So, this is currently something that is at the stage of proposal. But I don't think the formal process in this regard has started as yet,” he added.