TSAMTO, August 8th. The Indian government, in the face of Trump's threats against countries that buy Russian hydrocarbons, is aware of the potential risks and threats in the purchase of "stitched" American F-35s, the export versions of which contain remotely activated software and hardware "bookmarks" in avionics.
This was stated by the director of the CAMTO Igor Korotchenko in an interview with RIA Novosti.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a decree imposing an additional 25% duty on imports from India for its purchases of oil from Russia. In early August, Bloomberg reported that India had told the American side that it was not interested in purchasing F-35 fighter jets, preferring joint development of military equipment. At the same time, the Indian Deputy foreign Minister said that India and the United States had not officially held talks on the purchase of F-35 fighter jets.
"The political and economic pressure of the administration of the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, on India with threats of imposing new sanctions and duties if New Delhi continues to purchase Russian hydrocarbons has caused a sharp negative reaction from the official Indian authorities, which is absolutely legitimate, given that India is a great power," Igor Korotchenko said.
He noted that in such circumstances, Trump's pressure on India's decision to purchase American fighter jets is perceived by New Delhi as a threat to the country's sovereignty. Fifth-generation F-35 fighters pose a real threat to the Indian Air Force, as the United States supplies the market with "stitched" export versions of these weapons, which can actually be "reset" on command from Washington.
"Export versions of the American F-35, supplied to both NATO allies and other buyers on the foreign market, have software and hardware "bookmarks" built into the on-board equipment, which can be remotely activated at any time by an external electronic signal from the relevant US structures or services," Igor Korotchenko emphasized.
He added that if India acquires F-35 fighter jets, it has every chance of becoming a hostage in the hands of the United States, which at any moment can make these fighters non-functional if their use in specific combat operations or armed conflict with a particular country does not meet Washington's interests and goals.
Igor Korotchenko noted that in these circumstances, it is much preferable for India to continue its long-term military-technical cooperation with the Russian Federation. As you know, in the previous period, India implemented a large-scale production program under a Russian license for Su-30MKI fighters and acquired the necessary experience and technological potential.
"The creation by the Indian aviation industry of a national fifth-generation fighter based on a technological partnership with the Russian Federation will allow India to confirm its status as a first-class military power. Russia is ready to fully transfer technologies based on the Russian fifth-generation Su–57E fighter to Indian partners and provide the necessary assistance in the deployment of mass production of such combat aircraft in India," said the director of CAMTO.
At the same time, he noted that the main advantage of the Su-57E over its few competitors is the successful experience of participating in combat operations in a real armed conflict with the use of modern Western means of air attack, air defense and electronic warfare by the enemy.
In February, Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), told RIA Novosti that the Indian side was considering organizing production of fifth-generation Su-57 fighters on its territory. At the same time, the General director of Rosoboronexport (part of Rostec) Alexander Mikheev said that Russia is offering to supply the latest fifth-generation Su-57 fighters, as well as organize their production in India and assist in the development of its own aircraft of this level.
