Negotiations to acquire the F35 jet mentioned by President Donald Trump after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon begin, and given the protections the US needs to protect the high-end technology aboard the jets. It can be complicated.
India was able to go for a limited number of F35 fighters, not only because of the high cost of aircraft maintenance and operation. This could be similar numbers to two squadrons (36) of French Origin’s Lafale fighter jets operating in the Air Force.
Like the Rafale deal, the F35 acquisition continues in government-to-government mode, ensuring delivery and pricing on par with the US military. Unlike Rafales, however, the F35 may require strict end-user monitoring protocols. This could mean that the US is closely monitoring the Jets to ensure that officials from other countries, such as Russia, are unable to access them.
Also Read: US Lockheed Martin’s F-35 vs. Russia’s SU-57: Which stealth jet will rule the Indian skies?
In the past, the Pentagon’s important objection to the sale of fifth-generation jets to India was the presence of the Russian crude oil S400 air defense system. The US jets are designed to avoid advanced Russian air defense systems, and countries around the world do not operate both of these systems simultaneously. An important concern in the US is that the S400 should not be tweaked to detect and engage advanced fighter jets. This is still unknown what guarantees or protection measures to be kept to separate the two systems. The Indian Navy is looking to acquire fighter jets, the airline of 26 aircraft, with negotiations with France negotiated at a sophisticated stage and typically operating beyond the scope of the deployed S400 system. The F 35 could also be pitched as a stop gap arrangement. Currently, the first of the AMCA jets is not expected to enter service before 2036. The purchase of the French Rafale marine aircraft was pitched as a stopgap arrangement until the development of an indigenous twin engine deck-based fighter.
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