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President Donald Trump announced that the US would sell advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to India during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his recent US visit. This deal will place India among a select few nations with next-generation stealth aircraft, enhancing its defence capabilities.
With the US offering the F-35 again, India faces a tough decision: choose the American fighter or Russia’s Su-57. The choice involves weighing costs, technology transfer, local production and military independence.
The F-35 deal coincides with Russia's push to sell its Su-57 to India, offering incentives like technology transfer and potential joint production through Rosoboronexport, the company behind the stealth fighter.
The F-35 Lightning II is the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter jet, designed to boost national security, strengthen global alliances, and promote economic growth. As a fifth-generation aircraft, it offers unmatched stealth, situational awareness, and connectivity, ensuring pilots maintain dominance in the most challenging combat environments.
The Su-57 boasts advanced avionics, maneuverability, and stealth technology. It has a top speed of Mach 2 (around 2,136 km/h), a combat range of approximately 1,900 kilometers, and can carry various weapons in its internal bays and on external hardpoints.
The US and Russia are both offering India their fifth-generation fighter jets, the F-35 and Su-57. The addition of these advanced jets could boost India's military aircraft capabilities.
A 2024 report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that the F-35 program has faced rising costs and delays, with some estimates suggesting a staggering price tag of over $2 trillion over several decades. (Image: ANI)
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