maint123 wrote:Since usa has agreed to supply f35s to totalitarian regimes in the middle east like UAE maybe they show their trust in india by offering the same to India ?
Instead of offering 40 year old f16s ?
UAE F-35 sale was a political gift for establishing relations with Israel.
UAE also have support US War effort since before Gulf War 1.
And yes the US has relationships with dictatorships before. Even as part of NATO (Turkey and Spain).
And not F-16s, but if India wants I believe they can get the latest version of the F-15s as that have been proposed by Boeing.
Time will tell. I will not be surprised if the E-7A would be offered to India if the US decide to buy some.
As for the F-35? Perhaps down the road near the end of production or when it looks like China will invade Taiwan.
bt