US President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States will sell F-35 fighter jets to India on Thursday. As a result, India will join an exclusive group of countries equipped with these advanced stealth planes. Trump remarked, “Starting this year, we’ll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters.”

With this agreement, India will become part of a select group of nations, including NATO allies, Israel, and Japan, that can purchase the F-35 jets.

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What Are F-35 Jets?

The F-35 Lightning II, developed by Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced and versatile fighter jets in the world. Notably, it integrates advanced stealth capabilities, superior situational awareness, and networked combat technology. As a result, these jets can operate undetected at supersonic speeds.

The F-35 is available in three versions:

  1. F-35A: Designed for conventional takeoff and landing, primarily used by the U.S. Air Force.
  2. F-35B: Capable of short takeoff and vertical landing, operated by the U.S. Marine Corps.
  3. F-35C: Built for aircraft carriers, used by the U.S. Navy.

Recently, the F-35 jets were showcased at the 15th edition of Aero India, Asia’s largest aerospace exhibition. Additionally, these jets have appeared in popular films, including Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

Cost of the F-35 Jets

The F-35 program is one of the most expensive military projects ever undertaken. In fact, the total cost, including development, production, and maintenance, exceeds $1.7 trillion.

The cost of each F-35 model is approximately:

  • $80 million for the F-35A
  • $115 million for the F-35B
  • $110 million for the F-35C

Moreover, operating an F-35 comes with high costs, with each flight hour estimated at $36,000.