US Vice President JD Vance offered to sell Lockheed Martin (LMT) F-35 fighter jets to India during a visit to the country on Tuesday, according to media reports.

Vance said the US hopes India will buy more American-made military equipment. "American fifth-generation F-35s, for example, would give the Indian air force the ability to defend your airspace and defend your people like never before."

Vance's remarks follow President Donald Trump's pledge in February to boost US military sales to India starting in 2025, including the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets.

For decades, Russia has been India's main weapons supplier, with its fighter jets making up a key part of India's military. But the war in Ukraine has weakened Russia's ability to export arms, pushing India to look toward Western suppliers instead, The Telegraph reported.

Lockheed Martin has said that any talks about selling F-35s to India would happen directly between the US and Indian governments, according to the report.

Lockheed Martin did not immediately reply to MT Newswires' request for comment.

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