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.
Last year, US sold record amount of military equipment & hardware, especially among European partners & allies. One of the reasons for this hike is Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Chinese aircraft has uncanny similarities to the American F-35 jet. There are claims that China copied the design. Cyber theft of F-35 design data was reported in 2009.
The companies will also expand C-130J manufacturing & assembly in India to produce aircraft for IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme, if & when they bag the contract.
US-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) carries cluster munitions, can be used to strike targets deep behind enemy lines. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says 'ATACMS proved themselves'.
IAF’s Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft programme acted as a catalyst for making fighters in the country, says William Blair, Lockheed Martin’s India vice-president and chief executive.
Aero India website shows that only 75 foreign companies have booked their spots for the event at Bengaluru as opposed to the over 200 such firms in the 2019 edition.
India’s inability to speed up modernisation of its weaponry to guard the border with arch rivals Pakistan and China shows the Modi govt’s challenge to transform an industry plagued by red tape.
Nick Jonas is not trying to modernise the mangalsutra, but his gesture shows that choices can be equal. If commitment must be flaunted, it need not be gendered.
Initial talks held on the possibility of India entering the programme that was started in 2017 between France, Germany and Spain to ensure European sovereignty in defence and security.
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