The US military sends B1 bombers and F-15E fighter jets to participate in a joint bilateral air exercise with India amid China’s military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. This move demonstrates the strong defense cooperation between the two countries and could be viewed as an attempt to promote US military equipment as a substitute for Russian defense products in India. India could potentially lease or acquire a squadron of B-1B bombers to boost its strike power to deter Chinese aggressiveness.

The US military has sent two B-1 strategic bombers and a fleet of F-15E fighter jets to India to participate in a joint bilateral air exercise known as ‘Exercise Cope India 2023’. This marks the first time B1 heavy bomber jets from the US Air Force will participate with the Indian Air Force. The move is a concrete manifestation of robust defense cooperation between the two countries and is significant given China’s increasing aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. The US is keen to replace Russia as India’s primary defense supplier, and some experts believe that promoting its military equipment to India is part of an attempt to become New Delhi’s foremost defense ally. The recent deployment of top-of-the-line warplanes to India could be viewed as an attempt to exhibit the potential of these sophisticated military systems to the Indian military and convince them to procure American equipment over Russian.