US offers India partnership in development of Joint Strike Fighter

WASHINGTON: The US today offered India partnership in the development of the world' most advanced flying machine, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, months after losing the lucrative USD 10 billion contract for 126 war planes.

Acknowledging that India's recent decision not to opt for America's F-16 and F-18 fighters was a "setback", the Pentagon said it is still interested in selling its top notch fighters to India.

"Despite this setback, we believe US aircraft, such as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), to be the best in the world," the Pentagon said in a nine-page report to the Congress.

"Should India indicate interest in the JSF, the United States would be prepared to provide information on the JSF and its requirements (infrastructure, security, etc) to support India's future planning," the Pentagon said in a one-of-its kind report on India submitted to the US Congress.

The F-35 is a fifth generation all-stealth fighter being developed by US armament giant Lockheed Martin in a joint consortium with eight other countries -- the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia.

The F-35 Lightning II boasts advanced airframe, autonomic logistics, avionics, propulsion systems, stealth and firepower at the most affordable cost.

The US has already undertaken some test flight of the fighter. F-35 is the only other 5th generation aircraft to fly in the world besides the F-22 Raptors. Washington has refused to share the Raptor technology with any other nation, even its closest allies the UK and Israel.