Fri Feb 14 01:03:08 UTC 2025: ## US to Significantly Boost Military Sales to India, Offers F-35 Fighter Jets
**New Delhi, Feb 14, 2025** – The United States will dramatically increase military sales to India by “many billions of dollars” this year, President Donald Trump announced Thursday during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This significant boost includes the potential offer of America’s most advanced fighter jet, the F-35.
While President Trump touted the F-35 offer, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that the formal procurement process for such advanced military platforms has not yet begun. Nevertheless, defense cooperation dominated the joint statement released following the meeting, outlining several new initiatives. These include the “Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology” (TRUST) initiative, “Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology for the 21st Century” (COMPACT), and the “Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance” (ASIA).
Both nations agreed to review their arms transfer regulations, including the US’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), to streamline defense trade and technology exchange. Negotiations for a Reciprocal Defence Procurement (RDP) agreement will also commence this year, aiming to better align procurement systems and facilitate the reciprocal supply of defense goods and services.
The joint statement highlighted accelerated defense technology cooperation across various domains, with the US announcing a policy review concerning the release of fifth-generation fighters and undersea systems to India. Prime Minister Modi emphasized America’s crucial role in India’s defense preparedness, noting the progress towards joint development, production, and technology transfer. He also announced the creation of a Defence Cooperation Framework for the next decade.
Further solidifying the partnership, plans were announced to pursue new procurements and co-production arrangements for Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles in India this year. The procurement of six additional P-8I Maritime Patrol aircraft is also expected to be completed.
Regarding the potential F-35 sale, Mr. Misri emphasized that India follows a standard procurement process involving requests for proposals and evaluations. Discussions continue between General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the co-production of F-414 jet engines for the Light Combat Aircraft-Mk2, with US officials expressing anticipation for a finalized commercial contract.
In a multilateral context, the leaders committed to activating new Quad initiatives focusing on shared airlift capacity for disaster relief and improved maritime patrol interoperability, ahead of the Quad summit in India later this year. The leaders also committed to supporting overseas deployments of both militaries in the Indo-Pacific through enhanced logistics, intelligence sharing, and improved force mobility for joint humanitarian and disaster relief operations. While the future of the iCET initiative remains unclear, the new TRUST initiative appears to be its successor.
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