F-35 fighter jets are world's most advanced and Trump offered them to India. Know its key features, cost
US President Donald Trump in a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year made a landmark offer to supply India with the
F-35 Lightning II
fighter jet. Trump announced that the new administration was ready to sell one of the top US military prizes -- F-35s. "We're also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters," Trump said.
The proposal sparked significant interest in New Delhi as the F-35 fighter is hailed as most lethal, survivable, and connected fighter aircraft in the world. Let's try and understand what is F-35 jets, its primary variants and its key features.
What is F-35 and what are its variants?
The F-35A is the US Air Force's latest fifth-generation fighter. The F-35A will provide next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability for the United States and allied nations.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Neuropathy is not from Low vitamin B. Meet the Real Enemy of Neuropathy (Stop Doing This)
Health Insight Journal
Learn More
Undo
ALSO READ:
VA spokesperson issues clarification on bombshell report claiming doctors can refuse treatment to Democrats
According to a report in InsightsonIndia, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a single-seat, single-engine stealth fighter designed for multi-role combat missions. It is classified as a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) with advanced stealth, electronic warfare, and sensor fusion capabilities. The multirole combat aircraft has been designed to perform air superiority, strike, electronic warfare, and intelligence-gathering missions.
Live Events
What are its primary variants?
F-35A – Conventional takeoff and landing (U.S. Air Force).
F-35B – Short takeoff/vertical landing (U.S. Marine Corps).
F-35C – Carrier-based operations (U.S. Navy & Marine Corps).
Who develops F-35 fighter jets?
Manufactured by
Lockheed Martin
under a US-led multinational program.
ALSO READ:
VA policy change: US doctors can question veterans whether they attended Trump's rallies before treatment?
What are the key features of F-35 fighter jets?
Stealth Technology:
Designed with radar-evading features, ensuring low observability in combat
Advanced Avionics:
Uses sensor fusion and AI-driven systems for superior battlefield awareness
Supersonic Speed:
Achieves Mach 1.6 (1,960 km/h) while maintaining stealth capabilities
Network-Centric Warfare:
Shares real-time tactical data with ground, naval, and aerial forces
Combat Proven:
Operated by multiple NATO allies, expected to remain in service until 2080s
High Cost:
Costs over $100 million per unit, with lifetime operational costs exceeding $2 trillion
ALSO READ:
American Express hints at a big upgrade to its Platinum Credit card in 'largest investment ever'
F-35 is world's most advanced fighter jet
Renowned for its ability to operate undetected at supersonic speeds, F-35 is world's most advanced fighter jet. It boasts advanced electronic warfare systems, open architecture, sophisticated sensors, and exceptional information fusion capabilities. These features allow the jet to detect and engage targets at long ranges, making it a formidable asset in modern aerial combat.
It has been embraced by numerous allied nations, making it a truly global asset: Australia operates 72 F-35A jets. The United Kingdom, Italy, and Norway are program partner nations that have integrated the F-35 into their fleets, according to India Today.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Harvard and Trump administration resume talks to resolve ongoing feud
Harvard University and the Trump administration have resumed discussions to resolve a long-standing dispute that escalated into funding cuts , legal battles , and political tensions. The talks, which restarted this week at the White House , aim to find common ground after months of confrontation over federal funding , campus policies , and academic independence, according to a report by the New York Times. During the meeting, Harvard officials presented a PowerPoint outlining recent actions on antisemitism, admissions, and viewpoint diversity. In response, White House representatives listed further steps they expect the university to take. A letter from the administration followed, detailing conditions for a possible agreement. Harvard has not yet commented on its response. Sources close to the matter say the negotiations restarted after other academic leaders urged Harvard to reengage with the administration. The outreach also followed public remarks by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who signaled readiness for talks. Although the terms of any potential deal remain unclear, both sides have indicated interest in finding a resolution. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:-:- Loaded : 0% 0:00:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - -:-:- 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 'Swing is King': Mr. Hemant's Strategy Finally Explained in Free Session TradeWise Learn More Undo Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that 'very possible that a Deal will be announced over the next week or so.' However, two people familiar with the talks said a deal in the immediate future is unlikely. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Internally, Harvard officials are weighing the risks of continued conflict. According to those briefed on the discussions, university leaders fear that ongoing tension with the federal government could shrink Harvard's influence and budget. Key concerns include funding cuts, visa restrictions on international students , and federal investigations. Live Events You Might Also Like: Federal judge blocks Trump effort to keep Harvard from hosting foreign students One individual close to Harvard emphasised, 'The university is not going to compromise its values or First Amendment rights.' A possible agreement being explored could see restoration of a portion of the federal research funding withdrawn earlier this year, and a halt to legal actions. In exchange, Harvard may be asked to make stronger commitments on antisemitism, admissions reform, and ideological diversity. The discussions mark a shift from April, when Harvard cut off talks after receiving a letter from the administration demanding wide-reaching changes. The letter proposed merit-based hiring and admissions, a halt to diversity programs, and ongoing oversight through 2028. Harvard rejected those terms, leading to lawsuits and public sparring. Since then, the administration has continued to cut research funding and challenge Harvard's ability to admit international students. Meanwhile, the university has faced increasing pressure from within to find a less confrontational path forward. You Might Also Like: How Trump has targeted Harvard's international students - and what the latest court ruling means A potential deal may also serve as a model for other universities seeking to avoid similar conflicts. According to sources, multiple elite colleges are in private discussions with the Trump administration over funding and campus policies. On social media, Trump described a possible agreement as 'mindbogglingly HISTORIC' and 'very good for our Country.' He later praised Harvard's leadership for acting 'extremely appropriately' during negotiations. The legal case regarding Harvard's funding cuts is ongoing, with a hearing scheduled for July 21 in Boston.
News18
32 minutes ago
- News18
Finance Ministry Clarifies Reports On Swiss Bank Deposits; Know What It Says
Last Updated: The Finance Ministry addresses reports on Indian deposits in Swiss banks, highlighting efforts to curb offshore tax evasion via international cooperation and data sharing. The Ministry of Finance has clarified recent media reports regarding a rise in deposits by Indian entities in Swiss bank accounts, highlighting the government's ongoing efforts to curb offshore tax evasion through international cooperation and data sharing. In a statement, the ministry said India has been receiving annual financial account information from Switzerland under the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) framework since 2018, with the first data exchange taking place in September 2019. The data shared includes details even on accounts suspected of financial irregularities. 'In this context, it is stated that in order to combat the problem of offshore tax evasion, tax jurisdictions cooperate among themselves and share relevant information about financial assets held by the citizens of other countries in their tax jurisdiction," the finance ministry said. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) regularly undertakes a systematic review of data so received and identifies taxpayers, whose cases require further verification. Such verification is carried out through different modes, including search and survey actions, open enquiries, etc, it added. 'For AY 2024-25, CBDT compared the data shared under AEOI with the information about foreign assets and income filed in the ITRs by the taxpayers, for the purpose of verification. The analysis covered all jurisdictions, including Switzerland. Additionally, SMS and Emails were sent to various taxpayers with a request to review their ITRs, where foreign assets and income were not reported in the appropriate Schedules of ITR," it added. Following this, 24,678 taxpayers reviewed their ITRs, and 5,483 filed belated returns, disclosing foreign assets worth Rs 29,208 crore and additional foreign income of ₹1,089.88 crore. The ministry said appropriate legal action is being considered against those who failed to respond. The initiative has significantly boosted compliance. For AY 2024-25, 2.31 lakh taxpayers reported foreign assets and income, a sharp 45.17% rise compared to 1.59 lakh in AY 2023-24. The Finance Ministry attributed the improvement to increased awareness and a data-driven compliance strategy, and reiterated its commitment to pursuing enforcement against non-compliant taxpayers under existing laws. 'It is further stated that Switzerland has been providing annual financial information about Indian residents since 2018 under the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) framework. The first data transmission to Indian authorities occurred in September 2019, and the exchange has continued regularly since then, covering even those accounts suspected of involvement in financial irregularities," the ministry said. First Published: June 21, 2025, 10:10 IST
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Dollar edges higher vs yen amid focus on Middle East unrest
The U.S. dollar rose to a three-week high against the safe-haven yen and gained ground on the Swiss franc on Friday amid signs tension in the Middle East is easing after Iran backed continued discussions with Europe on its conflict with Israel. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran backed further talks with Germany, France, Britain and the EU and would be prepared to meet again in the near future following talks in Geneva. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Israel and Iran have been waging a week-long air battle as the Israeli government seeks to thwart Tehran's nuclear ambitions, and market participants are nervous about possible U.S. attacks on Iran, sparking a surge in the greenback. The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against six peers, including the Swiss franc, the Japanese yen, and the euro, is poised to rise 0.6% this week. On the day, however, the index remains flat after a Federal Reserve governor said rate cuts should be considered as soon as July, given recent inflation data. Live Events "The market's already expecting two rate cuts. That was just confirmed by the Fed this week. So, Mr. (Chris) Waller coming out and saying that, would indicate that it's coming sooner rather than later," said Joseph Trevisani, senior analyst at FX Street. Iran said on Friday it would not discuss the future of its nuclear programme while under attack by Israel, as Europe tried to coax Tehran back into negotiations. Meanwhile, the White House said on Thursday that President Donald Trump would decide on the potential involvement of the United States in the conflict in the next two weeks. That helped soothe nervous investors worried about an imminent U.S. attack on Iran, even though the prospect of a broadening Middle East conflict kept risk appetite in check. Brent crude fell more than 2%, but at around $77 a barrel, it was close to the January peak it hit last week. The drop supported the currencies of net oil-importing economies such as the euro and the yen. The euro rose 0.3% at $1.1534, while the yen fell 0.29% to 145.88 per dollar. The recent spike in oil prices added a new layer of inflation uncertainty for central banks across regions, which have been grappling with the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on their economies. Although the Federal Reserve this week stuck with its forecast of two interest rate cuts this year, Chair Jerome Powell warned of "meaningful" inflation ahead. Analysts saw the central bank's delivery as a "hawkish tilt" further underpinning the greenback's gains this week. The Swiss franc was flat at 0.8166 per dollar but was set for its largest weekly drop since the third week of April, after the country's central bank lowered interest rates to 0%. Investors were, however, taken aback by an unexpected 25-basis-point interest rate cut by Norges Bank, and the krone is down more than 2% against the dollar this week. Though geopolitical tensions were the main market focus this week, concerns about a trade war and the impact it may have on costs, corporate margins, and overall growth are ever-present, as Trump's early July tariff deadline looms. These concerns have weighed on the dollar, which is down about 9% this year. Currencies positively correlated to risk sentiment, such as the Australian and New Zealand dollars, were down 0.3% against the buck. Elsewhere, the yuan was flat at 7.1820 after China kept benchmark lending rates unchanged as expected. Sterling was flat at $1.3471, paring earlier gains after British retail sales data showed volumes recorded their sharpest drop since December 2023 last month. "The default setting may be position adjusting," said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex. Currency bid prices at 20 June 07:32 p.m. GMT Descripti RIC Last U.S. Pct YTD Pct High Low on Close Change Bid Bid Previous Session Dollar <=USD 98.701 98.67 0.04% -9.02% 98.898 98.5 index > 36 Euro/Doll 492 Dollar/Ye 175 Euro/Yen 16 Dollar/Sw 55 Sterling/ 457 Dollar/Ca 88 Aussie/Do 452 Euro/Swis 86 Euro/Ster 27 NZ 65 llar Dollar/No 003 Euro/Norw 265 Dollar/Sw 93 Euro/Swed 65
