Speaking alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that his administration would begin “paving the way” for India to eventually acquire the F-35 stealth fighter.
Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon, National Security Council (NSC) and the Department of State by email on Thursday evening for comment.
Why It Matters
The Joint Strike Fighter program is the most expensive U.S. weapons system, with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimating its total cost to American taxpayers at $1.7 trillion.
The program includes eight international development partners, and the U.S. has approved foreign military sales with 12 additional nations, including Israel, South Korea, and Singapore.
India hosted a showcase of both the F-35 and the Russian Su-57 at its Aero India 2025 air show earlier this week.
The F-35 has also faced criticism, notably from Elon Musk, who has questioned the relevance of manned fighter jets in the era of drone warfare. In a November post on X, the Trump ally remarked, “Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35.”
hat To Know
Trump announced the decision to provide India with the stealth fighters during a joint-press conference following his meeting Thursday with Modi. The commitment provides a major win for India, which has long sought U.S. fighters to bolster its military capabilities.
Trump said the F-35 sale is part of a plan to increase military sales to India “by many billions of dollars,” citing the need to strengthen the QUAD alliance, which includes Australia, India, Japan and the United States, and mainly exists as a diplomatic relationship between the countries in order to create an “open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient,” according to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The sale will occur this year, according to Trump, which shows the priority the administration has placed on “maintaining peace and prosperity” in the Indo-Pacific. The move will greatly deepen ties between the U.S. and India, which the latter has pursued in recent years through port agreements and technology sharing.
India has also increased its economic partnerships with Russia and China through the BRICS economic alliance—which also includes Brazil and South Africa—and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Therefore, the F-35 had not previously been considered for India, also in part due to its heavy reliance on Russian-made weapons systems.
What People Are Saying
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., previously told Newsweek: “China strongly opposes the U.S. strengthening forward deployments in the Asia-Pacific to seek unilateral military advantage. We urge the U.S. to earnestly respect other countries’ security concerns and stop undermining peace and stability in the region.”
The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said in a press release: “[Aero India 2025] is an opportunity to enhance cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region, while providing the U.S. a forum to showcase its defense capabilities while strengthening alliances and partnerships.”
Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov told Tass of Aero India 2025: “The Indian military shows interest in Russian-made state-of-the-art systems, including the fifth-generation Su-57E fighter jet…We are ready to offer New Delhi a wide range of advanced defense products which have proved their efficiency in the real combat environment.”
What Happens Next
Russia and China will have a chance to respond to the announcement, but Trump has committed to the sales.
The QUAD alliance will next meet at a Leaders’ Summit in India later this year.
