Actually, the assumed condition for the lifting of the US oil and scrap embargo and unfreezing of Japanese assets in the US was a general Japanese withdrawal from China, or at least to the 1937 de facto border. Japan chose war instead.
This will be a good move if it happens - modern wars are won by technology, training and leadership, not numbers. See the Gulf War, when if I recall the Iraqi forces had a numerical advantage.
I believe that the leadership of the United States earnestly sees India as a valuable and equal partner to build better relations with. Both nations will be among the leading powers of the 21st century, and our shared democratic values also serve as a basis of cooperation in this dangerous...
The more I think about it the more convinced I am that this deal is a scam and not worth the money. Better spend the money on developing the Tejas/4.5/5g Tejas successor. You guys have to break your dependence on foreign sources for many arms. It also harms India's international image.
"Since its induction, the Sea Harriers have been the air arm of India’s battleships, INS Viraat and INS Vikrant."
Left: Battleship. Right: Carrier. Get it right, media! :p
I would think that India would do better to focus on indigenous designs for military projects as much as possible, as that's the current political priority. The new Indian frigate class is quite capable.
*NATO*'s Ukraine adventure? I must have missed when the 1st Armored and the Eurocorps rolled into Crimea, as opposed to the Spetsnaz.
There is certainly room for deeper cooperation with India for the US, and I greatly dislike this Administration's schizophrenia when it comes to foreign policy...
STOBAR *AND* CATOBAR? Lunacy. For a large carrier CATOBAR is the only option - with STOBAR your carrier is limited mainly to fleet air defense due to the low payloads imposed by the ski jump. CATOBAR turns your carrier into a real force projection platform - the main purpose of carriers today.