Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the United States has been marked by controversy, as former US President Donald Trump reportedly pressured him to buy expensive F-35 fighter jets, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Wednesday.
According to Indian newspaper The Hindu, Washington is using diplomatic pressure to push India into signing a defence deal that includes the purchase of these aircraft.
A report from the Pentagon has raised serious concerns about the F-35 jets, calling them unreliable and full of technical flaws. The report reveals that the aircraft frequently malfunctions, sometimes failing immediately after takeoff.
Additionally, it sends a false alert every hour, despite the standard being one error per 50 hours of flight. The Pentagon further highlighted that after six years of combat trials, the F-35 has shown poor performance, delayed maintenance, a faulty cannon, and weak cybersecurity defences.
Indian opposition leaders have criticised the deal, warning that operating an F-35 would cost India 3.1 million Indian rupees per hour. Defence analysts argue that the jet is expensive, a strain on India’s budget, and does not align with the country’s defence needs.
They also pointed out that India would remain dependent on the US for spare parts, as Washington refuses to transfer its fighter jet technology under strict security regulations.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has also questioned the relevance of the F-35 in modern warfare, stating that such aircraft are obsolete in the era of drones and would only put pilots at risk.
Experts believe the US is trying to reduce India’s reliance on Russian military equipment by pushing it towards American weapons.
However, considering India's economic situation, analysts suggest that Modi should reconsider the F-35 deal and instead focus on strengthening domestic fighter jet production and existing agreements with Russia.