India is set to become the only country to acquire the formidable American F-35 supersonic stealth bomber without being a member of NATO’s elite club! The F-35 proved its destructive capabilities in the Israel-Hamas war. This stealth fighter jet can evade any radar system, infiltrate enemy territory, conduct lightning attacks, and gather intelligence. Its body is equipped with hundreds of thousands of sensors that can counter enemy anti-aircraft missile attacks! This aircraft can land in any situation, whether horizontally, vertically, or even in an upright position!
India has traditionally relied on Russian-made fighter jets such as MiG and Sukhoi. However, the Lockheed Martin-manufactured fifth-generation F-35 represents a marvel of modern technology. Its price reflects its superiority—each unit costs approximately $3 billion, not including the hefty operational and maintenance expenses. Due to the evolving battlefield dynamics, India can no longer rely solely on its long-time arms supplier, Russia. This is because China and Pakistan, its long-standing adversaries, have already announced the development and deployment of China’s fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter. Moreover, Pakistan still possesses 85 U.S.-made F-16 jets, although most have become non-operational after Donald Trump halted military aid and spare parts supply due to Pakistan’s alleged links to terrorism. However, after Pakistan acquired China’s J-20 and J-35 stealth aircraft, a significant imbalance in air power emerged between India and its regional adversaries. Although India is in the final stages of developing its own fifth-generation AMCA fighter jet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed interest in purchasing the F-35 from the U.S. to maintain regional superiority against China.
China’s ambition to surpass the United States as the world’s top economic and military superpower has alarmed Washington. This concern has worked in India’s favor! Additionally, with Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, India has found an opportunity to strengthen its strategic position. To counter China, the U.S. is encouraging India to acquire the F-35 fighter jet and other advanced military hardware. This includes the highly effective Harpoon anti-ship guided missile, Javelin anti-tank guided missile, M-77 howitzer, MQ-9B Sea Guardian drone, and the Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicle. The U.S.-made Stryker combat vehicle will be particularly useful for India’s mountainous borders against China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Unlike India’s heavier T-90, T-72, and Arjun tanks, the Stryker offers a lighter but powerful alternative for border warfare. Previously, China enjoyed an advantage by deploying its ZTQ-15 light tanks in these areas. Interestingly, the U.S. has signed a deal to co-produce Stryker combat vehicles in India! International military analysts believe this development will directly challenge China’s aggressive stance in Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Stryker’s arsenal includes the American-made 50mm M-2 Browning heavy machine gun, M-240 machine gun, and MK-19 grenade launcher. The Javelin anti-tank guided missile has proven so effective that Ukrainian forces used it to destroy 500–600 Russian tanks in the last three years! The Harpoon missile, meanwhile, is an extremely precise guided weapon designed to annihilate warships.
Last year, India purchased $1.7 billion worth of arms from the U.S. This time, the amount is expected to soar to $200 billion! Trump’s recent announcement of ending the long-standing U.S.-Russia cold war, combined with China’s thwarted ambitions, is likely to reshape global geopolitics. This shift could foster a new U.S.-Russia-India trilateral relationship that would promote trade, peace, and stability across South and Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed strong discontent over the U.S. supplying F-35 stealth jets to India, arguing that it would destabilize regional balance. However, why does he not consider regional imbalance when Pakistan acquires stealth fighters from China? Does Shehbaz not trust China’s “copy-paste” reverse-engineered technology?
On the other hand, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also voiced frustration, stating that despite Turkey being a NATO member, it has been unable to acquire the F-35 fighter jet. The U.S. responded that Turkey possesses Russia’s S-400 air defense system, which is a security concern. However, India also has the S-400—so why is it getting the F-35? This is the brilliance of India’s charismatic foreign policy! The U.S. has long considered Turkey an unreliable NATO member, fearing that Ankara might secretly transfer the F-35’s technology to China. But the U.S. trusts India because Indian culture does not tolerate betrayal, deception, or opportunism.
This is why Indians are highly valued worldwide! Where are they not? From Google and Microsoft to key U.S. intelligence agencies, Indian-origin professionals dominate these fields. It wouldn’t be surprising if an Indian-origin individual becomes the U.S. President in the future! If Kamala Harris had won, it could have happened in this very election!
