BENGALURU: While advanced F16 Vipers and F/A 18 Super Hornet fighters from the US have already arrived in Bangalore for Aero India 2023top US officials on Sunday hinted at a possible debut of the F-35 fighter, billed as the world’s most advanced fighter.
A US delegation, led by US Embassy Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, spoke to the media before Aero India, but officials have not given a confirmation of the F-35’s debut.
Rear Admiral Michael L Baker, senior defense official and defense attaché to India, said: “Two F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft – the most battle-proven carrier strike fighter – and two F-16 Vipers are already in Yelahanka. As for the F-35, if it were to come to this airshow, it would be to demonstrate the strength and closeness of the India-US partnership and not because there is a takeover possibility. This would mean bringing the world’s most advanced fighter jet to India’s premier airshow and supporting our partner in a strategic way.”
Air-launched UAV
Asked whether the United States was offering the F-35 to India, Baker said discussions on the Indian side were still very nascent and it would be premature to discuss the details. On whether the US was willing to sell F-35s to India, she explained: “There hasn’t been any high-level request or discussion. From what I can tell, India is focused on building their own future fighters…”
Speaking specifically about the joint development of the air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (ALUAV) under the Air System Joint Working Group Part of the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) between the two countries, the officials said said there had been some progress with the ALUAV, the project agreement for which was signed last year.
Major General Julian C Cheater, Air Force Assistant Deputy Undersecretary, International Affairs, said: “We expect to conduct flight tests as early as the fall of 2023, which will take place at a distance in northern India and one in the United States We will develop sensors on the package and expect that particular UAV to most likely be launched from the C130-J aircraft.”
Baker also said that the US is looking to offer co-production of some more advanced manufacturing capabilities that may not yet exist in India.
Cheater said, “India is currently providing critical supplies and aid as part of Operation Dost – relief efforts in Turkey and Syria – to do which it has used five C17s and C-130Js. India has the largest fleet of C17s outside the United States.”
He added that there is also a growing emphasis on initiating space cooperation, especially in the areas of space situational awareness.
Indo-Russian relationship
Asked whether the fact that Russia is India’s strong ally upsets the United States, Jones said, “That’s a separate issue in terms of the unjust war Russia has waged against Ukraine. That doesn’t mean the conversations here are about that. They are focused on the partnership we have with India and would like to build to support very important global goals of the free area, addressing issues that affect our people, involving trade, climate change, commerce, pandemic health and which we hear about daily press reports that affect people’s daily lives.
Indo-Pacific Free and Open
While speaking of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the chief deputy defense secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs, Jedidiah P Royal, sidestepped a question about who was the aggressor by not naming China. “We are not here at Aero India focus on this. We are here to discuss the opportunities in the US-India defense partnership. The opportunities are rich and we will delve into it. I don’t want to get into a discussion about the specifics of the threat environment as it exists right now,” she said.
A US delegation, led by US Embassy Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, spoke to the media before Aero India, but officials have not given a confirmation of the F-35’s debut.
Rear Admiral Michael L Baker, senior defense official and defense attaché to India, said: “Two F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft – the most battle-proven carrier strike fighter – and two F-16 Vipers are already in Yelahanka. As for the F-35, if it were to come to this airshow, it would be to demonstrate the strength and closeness of the India-US partnership and not because there is a takeover possibility. This would mean bringing the world’s most advanced fighter jet to India’s premier airshow and supporting our partner in a strategic way.”
Air-launched UAV
Asked whether the United States was offering the F-35 to India, Baker said discussions on the Indian side were still very nascent and it would be premature to discuss the details. On whether the US was willing to sell F-35s to India, she explained: “There hasn’t been any high-level request or discussion. From what I can tell, India is focused on building their own future fighters…”
Speaking specifically about the joint development of the air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (ALUAV) under the Air System Joint Working Group Part of the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) between the two countries, the officials said said there had been some progress with the ALUAV, the project agreement for which was signed last year.
Major General Julian C Cheater, Air Force Assistant Deputy Undersecretary, International Affairs, said: “We expect to conduct flight tests as early as the fall of 2023, which will take place at a distance in northern India and one in the United States We will develop sensors on the package and expect that particular UAV to most likely be launched from the C130-J aircraft.”
Baker also said that the US is looking to offer co-production of some more advanced manufacturing capabilities that may not yet exist in India.
Cheater said, “India is currently providing critical supplies and aid as part of Operation Dost – relief efforts in Turkey and Syria – to do which it has used five C17s and C-130Js. India has the largest fleet of C17s outside the United States.”
He added that there is also a growing emphasis on initiating space cooperation, especially in the areas of space situational awareness.
Indo-Russian relationship
Asked whether the fact that Russia is India’s strong ally upsets the United States, Jones said, “That’s a separate issue in terms of the unjust war Russia has waged against Ukraine. That doesn’t mean the conversations here are about that. They are focused on the partnership we have with India and would like to build to support very important global goals of the free area, addressing issues that affect our people, involving trade, climate change, commerce, pandemic health and which we hear about daily press reports that affect people’s daily lives.
Indo-Pacific Free and Open
While speaking of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the chief deputy defense secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs, Jedidiah P Royal, sidestepped a question about who was the aggressor by not naming China. “We are not here at Aero India focus on this. We are here to discuss the opportunities in the US-India defense partnership. The opportunities are rich and we will delve into it. I don’t want to get into a discussion about the specifics of the threat environment as it exists right now,” she said.
