NEW DELHI: While Russia has talked about building its most sophisticated jets domestically in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s objectives, opposition parties in India have criticized US President Donald Trump’s offer to sell F-35 fighters to the nation, pointing out their exorbitant costs.
The US and India’s longstanding defense partner, Russia, have made the offer at a time when the Indian Air Force is looking to acquire more planes to fight China’s rapidly expanding force and its squadrons have shrunk to 31 from an authorized number of 42.
Trump stated following his meeting with Modi in Washington last week that the United States will begin increasing military sales to India in 2025 and eventually supply the fifth-generation F-35 warplanes manufactured by Lockheed Martin LMT.N.
