India opposition slams Trump’s F-35 offer, Russia makes its own pitch

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1. SS: India’s opposition parties have criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to sell F-35 fighters to the country, citing their high costs, even as Russia has discussed producing its most advanced jets locally in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goals.

   The offer from both U.S. and India’s long-time defence partner Russia comes at a time when the Indian Air Force’s squadrons have fallen to 31 from an approved strength of 42 and it is seeking to acquire more jets to counter China, which is rapidly building its military.

   India’s main opposition Congress party has used Trump ally and billionaire Elon Musk’s past criticism of the fighter to target Modi’s government.

   The Indian government has not said it intends to buy the plane and India’s foreign secretary told reporters last week that the U.S. offer was at a “proposal stage”, adding that the acquisition process had not started.

   India’s defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

   Last week, Russia offered to make in India its fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter, with locally sourced components, saying production could begin as early as this year if India agreed.

   “Russia has never shied away from transferring technology,” said Amit Cowshish, former financial adviser for acquisitions at the Indian defence ministry.

   “The problem is not with Russia offering transfer of technology … we will continue to deal with Russia and buy oil and maybe buy a couple of other things, but such a big (defence) deal is likely to create its own difficulties vis-à-vis (the) U.S.,” Cowshish said.

2. Fricking amateur hour.

3. Who could’ve known bullying countries into deals wasn’t good diplomacy?

4. Since Trump is supposedly a staunch “built in the USA” guy, it will be interesting to see how he responds to India’s demand to have at least part of the fighter sourced in India.

5. The congress party working overtime to help Modi. What could possibly go wrong.

6. The left wing Congress party that leads the Opposition is why India has an inventory full of Russian crap instead of domestic production in the first place. No surprise they want the SU-57 instead of the F-35, I wonder how much the Russians are paying them. It would not be even close to the first time.

7. I thought Gripen was a great alternative?

8. Opposition is opposing

   Next News. Water wet!

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