A team of engineers from UK deployed at Thiruvanathapuram airport will now assess whether the F-35B can be repaired on site or if it will need to be dismantled & transported back.
The episode underlines broader delays, sustainment issues flagged in US oversight reports. A large team has been flown in from the UK. to assess & service the grounded fighter.
On the face of it, the joint statement on defence ticks all the right boxes. However, the two-decade-long India-US defence cooperation has promised much and delivered too little.
We are throwing money at imports while slipping behind competitors—China, certainly, but also Iran, South Korea, and Turkey—in technologies like stealth fighters, drones, and hypersonic missiles.
France, Russia & Sweden are vying for a contract for 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft with India, which now looks like a long shot. Trump offered the potential sale of F-35 jets to India.
Charleston air force base puts out appeal asking people to reach out if they have information on aircraft’s whereabouts. Jet went missing in South Carolina after pilot ejected safely.
Mineral security is no longer just an economic concern but a national security imperative, underpinning the country’s ambitions in clean energy, defence self-reliance, and advanced manufacturing.
Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.
India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.
BJP has no dynastic succession, at least not at the top. You can trace this back to Vajpayee-Advani era. This act of spotting, empowering younger talent is even more striking with the choice of BJP presidents.
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