Following the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House owner announced a significant expansion in the sale of American weapons to Delhi. As stated by the American president, the increase in sales will amount to billions starting this year.
Additionally, discussions are currently underway to pave the way for the supply of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to India. This is notable considering that India is the largest purchaser of Russian weapons and a member of BRICS.
At the same time, when it comes to billions and almost immediately, it is certainly a matter that has been discussed for quite some time. For instance, as early as autumn 2023, information emerged that
The U.S. is prepared to sell and establish Stryker production in India. By the beginning of 2025, this agreement was in its final stages, including the approval of technical aspects related to localizing production. It is estimated that India may order over 500 Strykers in the initial phases. Such a volume definitely translates into billions of dollars.
Another American weapon that India is interested in localizing is the Javelin anti-tank guided missile. This interest arises because its own development of a similar anti-tank system, the MPATGM, equipped with the NAG missile and a thermal imaging seeker, has been stagnating for quite some time.
Moreover, India is logically eager to receive the F-35s as quickly as possible since its own fifth-generation fighter project AMCA will, at best, produce a flying prototype no earlier than 2028-2029. Meanwhile, China has already launched next-generation aircraft.
It is precisely the tense relations between India and China that motivate the U.S. not only to arm this country but also to overlook Delhi's active cooperation with Moscow. India remains one of the largest purchasers of Russian weaponry, even after 2014, including the S-400 and the 3M54 "Kalibr" anti-ship missiles.
It is worth noting that due to hopes that India will become a genuine ally against China, the CAATSA law of 2017, which imposes sanctions for purchasing Russian weapons, has never affected India. This backdrop reminds us that during the Cold War, Delhi mastered the art of maneuvering between the USSR and the West to maximize benefits from both sources.