Latest news with #F-35
India Today
an hour ago
- Politics
- India Today
Atmanirbhar Europe? France's Macron pushes for Rafale as alternative to US jets
French President Emmanuel Macron, in a quirky post on X, exhorted European nations to rethink their dependence on American fighter jets and positioned France's Rafale as an alternative in a push towards strategic post featured a Rafale jet on a mobile interface, with the text on the call banner reading, "Secure our Europe". The X post was captioned as, "European friends, you have a call".advertisementWhile Macron did not elaborate on the post, it is being viewed as an outreach to European countries, including NATO allies, to strengthen collective defence by buying European military hardware and reducing dependence on American technology amid the uncertainties in US foreign policy following Donald Trump's return to office. For Europe, reliance on American-made military hardware has been the cornerstone of its security needs for a vocal supporter of European strategic autonomy, had pushed his case in March as well."We must offer European alternatives to countries accustomed to American equipment... Scaling up production of these systems will lower costs and create a self-sustaining defence network across Europe," the French President told VS US F-35 JETIn recent years, countries like Poland and Finland have opted for the US-made F-35 fifth generation stealth fighter aircraft, produced by Lockheed Martin. In 2020, Poland signed a USD 4.6 billion deal for 32 F-35s. Finland also ordered 64 such aircraft in Rafale is a 4.5-generation fighter jet, developed by France's Dassault Aviation, and is capable of air-to-air combat, and ground strikes. On the other hand, the selling point of the F-35 is its stealth features, advanced electronic warfare systems and call comes at a time when speculation has swirled on social media about the potential existence of a 'kill switch' on the F-35s - a mechanism that would allow the US to remotely disable or limit the functionality of the jets sold to allies. However, the Pentagon has strongly refuted such the timing of Macron's post comes at a time when US military aid to Ukraine, which is locked in a never-ending war with Russia, has dried VS TRUMPIt also comes on the backdrop of a social media exchange between Macron and Trump over the Israel-Iran the US President left the G7 Summit a day early, Macron suggested to reporters that it was probably to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. "There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange," Macron soon as his remarks went viral, Trump was swift to slam his "publicity-seeking" French counterpart."Macron mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to DC to work on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong," Trump said in a post on Truth Watch
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pro-Palestinian activists break into UK's largest air base
AP image London: Pro-Palestinian activists broke into the UK's largest air force base in southeast England and vandalised two planes in an act condemned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as "disgraceful" on Friday. "The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful," Starmer said on X after campaign group Palestine Action posted a video claiming to show its activist breaking into the Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire. In the video posted on X, the activists appear to spray a plane with red paint while roaming the base on scooters. "Palestine Action break into RAF Brize Norton and damage two military aircrafts," claimed the group, which has been behind several stunts protesting the UK's role in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. "We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating," the ministry of defence said. Local police said they launched an investigation into reports of "criminal damage" and a break-in. RAF Brize Norton serves as a hub for air-to-air refuelling forces and supports overseas operations, including flights to the RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Britain's largest air force base in the Middle East. According to British media, one of the planes vandalised was an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker. "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets," Palestine Action said in a statement. "Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East." Last month, the group claimed responsibility for vandalising a US military aircraft in Ireland. Starmer's Labour government suspended around 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel last September, citing a "risk" they could be used in violations of international law. But the UK continues to supply components for F-35 fighter jets to a global pool that Israel is able to access. Israel has repeatedly denied allegations that it is committing a genocide in Gaza during its 20-month-long military campaign following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
British F-35B Fighter Jet, Which Is Grounded In Kerala, On Sale On OLX? A Fact-Check
New Delhi: A British F-35B fighter jet, which made an unscheduled stop at Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Saturday, has remained grounded since then. While authorities worked on ensuring the safe departure of the jet, one of the world's most expensive and advanced combat aircraft, multiple posts on social media claimed the British F-35B Lightning II was up for sale on OLX. The screenshot appeared to be that of a post on OLX, and it included a picture of the F-35 fighter jet. It said the aircraft was up for sale for USD 4 million. The viral post, however, is fake. India is not for Beginners ???????????? Indians put Royal Navy's #F35B stealth fighter jet for sale on OLX, which has been grounded in Kerala's #Thiruvananthapuram airport for 6 days. — Rocket Singh Loki Head Chef @ Gryffindor भोजनालय (@DegreeWaleBabu) June 20, 2025 Who the hell did this! LMAO. Royal Navy's F-35B for sale. — Shihab (@ShihabudeenMb) June 18, 2025 F35 for Sale on OLX at $4M ???????????? #Trump — Jamin (@JaminrpP) June 20, 2025 Malayalis have put the British F-35 fighter jet on sale online in OLX ???????? — Mini Nair (@minicnair) June 17, 2025 The post also mentioned a few of the aircraft's specifications, including automatic parking, brand-new tyres and a battery. However, no such post was found on OLX's official website. Additionally, the items for sale on OLX from Kerala were priced in US dollars, which further suggests the post was fabricated. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is currently guarding the British F-35B fighter jet, which is part of the UK's HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, currently deployed in the Indo-Pacific region. The carrier group recently completed joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy. Since its arrival, British aviation engineers have been working intensively to fix a technical snag related to the aircraft's hydraulic systems. Despite their efforts, the issue remains unresolved, delaying the fighter jet's return to its mother ship.
AFP
7 hours ago
- AFP
AI image of crashed jet falsely linked to Iran-Israel war
said its forces had shot down two Israeli fighter jets, a report dismissed as "fake news" by an Israeli official, an image surfaced in posts falsely claiming it shows a downed F-35. But the picture contains visual inconsistencies typical of AI-generated content, an AFP analysis found. "The F-35 shot down by Iran. Much bigger than I thought," reads the Korean-language caption of an image shared on Threads on June 15, 2025. The image appears to show a massive fighter jet that has crashed in the desert and is missing its left wing. A crowd appears to have gathered around its nose. It circulated after Iranian state media said the country's forces had downed two Israeli fighter jets during a massive Israeli air raid on June 13 (archived link). An Israeli official rejected the report as "fake news" (archived link). Image Screenshot of the false Threads post taken June 19, 2025, with a red X added by AFP The same image was shared on South Korean forum Aagag, and a wider crop appearing to show the plane next to a road surfaced in similar Threads and X posts as well as in other forums such as SVR Forum, Ruliweb, MLB Park and Inven. But the image has tell-tale signs of being AI generated, and the purported F-35 fighter jet does not match photos of the warplane. In the version that shows the plane next to a road, the people surrounding the aircraft appear to be as large as the buses and one vehicle appears to be fused to the road. Image Visual insistencies contained in the falsely shared image -- highlighted and magnified by AFP Moreover, the shape and size of the purported crashed jet -- which according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin measures just under 16 metres (52 feet) -- differs from F-35s as seen in photos available An AFP photo of an Israeli F-35 also shows the symbol on its wing -- a Star of David on a circle -- is different to the symbol on the purported crashed jet's wing, which appears to be a star with a thick border. Image Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared image (left) and photos of F-35s (right), with differences highlighted by AFP While generative AI technology is rapidly improving, visual inconsistencies persist and are the best way to identify fabricated content. The Iran-Israel conflict has triggered a wave of misinformation, which AFP has debunked here.
Asia Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Asia Times
China's J-35A courting buyers barred from US F-35s
China's stealthy new J-35 fighter isn't just a plane. It is a signal to US allies and others that China is prepared to arm those frustrated by US delays and conditions attached to its military aircraft deliveries. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that China unveiled a scale model of its latest fifth-generation fighter, the J-35A, at the 55th Paris Air Show. The exhibition, organized by China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), marked the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation-developed fighter's first overseas appearance and comes amid a strategic Chinese push for more overseas arms sales. First flown in September 2023 and initially designed for carrier operations, the J-35A is positioned as China's second fifth-generation jet after the export-restricted J-20. CATIC has reportedly offered 40 units to Pakistan, which, if concluded, would potentially be the platform's first foreign sale. Alongside the J-35A, CATIC promoted the 4.5-generation J-10CE, which is already operational in Pakistan and was reportedly employed in May during India's Operation Sindoor, where it downed at least two Indian-flown Rafale fighters. China's JF-17, jointly developed with Pakistan and used by Azerbaijan, Myanmar and Nigeria, was also on display at the Paris Air Show. The air power showcase highlights China's intention to capitalize on geopolitical rifts and defense partnerships to expand its fighter exports, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East, amid growing demand for advanced, cost-competitive combat platforms outside NATO-aligned spheres. Saudi Arabia is a case in point. Unable to acquire the US-made F-35 and wary of American conditions attached to aircraft sales, Riyadh may view China's J-35 as an appealing hedge amid growing doubts about the US's long-term commitment to Gulf security. The US has refused to sell its top-of-the-line F-35 fighter to Saudi Arabia, given Washington's legal obligation to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge (QME) in the region. Guy McCardle reports in a December 2024 SOFREP article that the US refuses to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia due to deep concerns over technology security and geopolitical alignment. At stake, he writes, is the F-35's proprietary software, which includes the source code that remains US-controlled, leaving Saudi Arabia dependent on the US for upgrades and operational sovereignty. He also warns that integrating the F-35 with Chinese-made Saudi air defenses could compromise the jet's stealth and intelligence-sharing capabilities. While Saudi Arabia has sought participation in the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), slated to enter service in 2035, development delays in the program could raise questions of why Saudi Arabia should wait that long when the J-35 already exists. Saudi Arabia may thus consider the J-35 as part of a broader hedge between the US and China. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Saudi Arabia was the largest buyer of US weapons, accounting for 12% of US arms sales in 2024. Ghulam Ali, writing in China-US Focus, observes that 70–80% of Saudi Arabia's arms come from the US, a dependency that aligns with both countries' interests, albeit at a cost. He explains that US weapons are expensive, technology-sharing is limited and terms are subject to political shifts every four years. Crucially, he notes that these arms often come with political strings attached, which restrict their use in certain theaters. Elizabeth Dent and Grant Rumley, writing in a September 2024 article for Defense One, recount how the US suspended offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021 with the condition that their resumption would be contingent upon the latter's compliance with international humanitarian norms and progress in ending the war in Yemen. They note that Saudi Arabia responded by halting its air campaign, participating in UN-led peace negotiations and committing to training aimed at reducing civilian harm. Dent and Rumley argue that the US leveraged Saudi Arabia's dependence on F-15s and Patriot missile systems to exert political pressure, demonstrating that US arms sales are not unconditional but tools of policy influence. That US move may have impressed upon Saudi military planners the need for alternative suppliers whose arms come without political conditions. Fuad Shahbazov writes in the Gulf International Forum that China quickly moved to capitalize on Saudi Arabia's dissatisfaction with the US, offering advanced drones and ballistic missile systems — weapons that the US is either unable or unwilling to provide, while also partnering with Saudi Arabia's emerging arms industry. Still, he cautions, China cannot replace the US as Saudi Arabia's primary security guarantor. He notes that although Saudi Arabia has looked to China to influence Iran to stop Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, China is reluctant to get entangled in a larger Middle East conflict and is careful not to damage its close relations with Iran. However, US arms exports to Saudi Arabia may not assuage Riyadh's fear of abandonment when faced with internal unrest or an Iran determined to retaliate with proxies, drones, missiles or even potential nuclear weapons, should its regime survive the ongoing conflict with Israel. Oliver John, writing in a June 2025 report for the Gulf International Forum, argues that the memory of the US abandoning Egypt's Hosni Mubarak during the 2011 Arab Spring protests gives a sense of insecurity to the Saudi regime. He observes that Gulf leaders increasingly interpret the US 'Pivot to Asia' as a strategic retreat from the Middle East, a view reinforced by the US drive for energy independence. John adds that although the Trump administration courted Saudi Arabia in 2019, its failure to respond to Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure that same year deepened doubts across the Gulf about the credibility of US security guarantees. Ultimately, the importance of Saudi Arabia's defense choices lies not in whether it purchases from the US or China but in how it utilizes those tools to influence its regional diplomacy with Iran, Israel and other regional players.
