Trump Proposes F-35 Fighter Jets to India Amid Trade Talks

Washington DC: During a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, discussions centered around a significant defense deal, with the US offering to supply F-35 fighter jets to India. However, while the proposal has been made, further negotiations are still ongoing.

The F-35, developed by Lockheed Martin, is considered one of the best and most advanced fighter jets in the world. Despite its reputation, the jet has faced criticism from some prominent figures. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has previously raised concerns about the F-35, calling it "expensive junk." Musk has criticized the fighter’s design, stating that it was created to fulfill too many roles, which made it overly complex and expensive.

F-35 Design Criticism

Musk’s criticism is based on the idea that the F-35 was designed to be a "jack of all trades, master of none," which led to a flawed and costly outcome. He pointed out that the design required the aircraft to fulfill too many different roles, resulting in an expensive and complex jet that might not fully meet all its intended purposes.

Concerns Over Safety and Crash Risks

The F-35, touted as the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, has faced multiple crashes over the years, raising safety concerns. Each crash is reported to cost the US around 83.2 billion rupees. One notable incident occurred last year when an F-35 Lightning-2 stealth fighter jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Albuquerque International Airport in New Mexico. Another jet went missing in South Carolina, only to be found wrecked behind a house, with its remains discovered 96 kilometers away from the base.

F-35 Features and Capabilities

Despite the criticism, the F-35 remains a formidable aircraft with advanced capabilities. It is a multirole combat aircraft capable of flying in all weather conditions and performing a range of missions including air superiority, strike missions, electronic warfare, espionage, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

The F-35 comes in three variants:

F-35A: Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL)
F-35B: Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL)
F-35C: Carrier-based

Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is designed for stealth and high speed, allowing it to be flown by a single pilot. Its specifications include:

Length: 51.4 feet
Wingspan: 35 feet
Height: 14.4 feet
Maximum speed: 1,976 km/h
Combat range: 1,239 km
Maximum altitude: 50,000 feet

The F-35 is equipped with a 25 mm rotary cannon and can fire 180 rounds per minute. It also has the ability to carry a variety of weapons, including air-to-air, air-to-surface, air-to-ship, and anti-ship missiles, along with four types of bombs.

Pricing and Negotiations

The price of the F-35 varies depending on the variant, with costs ranging between 80 to 150 million dollars (approximately 694 to 1,303 crores rupees). While the offer to supply India with these advanced jets is still under negotiation, the deal would significantly enhance India’s defense capabilities.