Latest news with #F35
News18
21 hours ago
- Business
- News18
Trump's Theatre Of Lies: India's Opposition Falls For Master Manipulator's Claims
The tragedy lies not in Trump's predictable dishonesty—that is simply his established modus operandi—but in India's Opposition choosing to legitimise these fabrications It is part of Donald Trump's personality to make seemingly insane remarks that defy logic and truth. Trump is no stranger to lies and outright falsities—he has spread these on umpteen occasions throughout his public life. The Washington Post documented over 10,000 false or misleading statements during his previous presidency. What is truly surprising, however, is India's opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, taking all of Donald Trump's claims at face value. Trump has claimed 29 times now that he stopped the India-Pakistan flare-up using trade as a leverage. India has categorically denied any such mediation from the US. Yet, the Congress ecosystem has decided to go by the words of a 'gora' president instead of their own prime minister and government. The pattern of Trump's dishonesty is well-documented. From inflating statistics on immigration and crime to exaggerating crowd sizes and misrepresenting trade policies, Trump's relationship with truth has always been transactional. His approach to foreign policy follows the same playbook—make outrageous claims, dominate the news cycle and use the resulting chaos as leverage for his broader objectives. The Defence Sales Gambit As far as Trump is concerned, his rants pertaining to India are driven by a clear desire to coerce New Delhi into buying high-end American weaponry. The timing of his claims coincides perfectly with ongoing discussions about India's fifth-generation fighter jet requirements. While Russia has offered its Su-57 stealth fighter for local production in India, the United States has been pushing its F-35 as an alternative. However, for India, the economic equation matters as much as the strategic one. After all, the F35 are dramatically more expensive than the Su-57 and operate best only under a NATO-grade system of systems. By amplifying drama around India-Pakistan tensions and claiming credit for de-escalation, Trump is signaling that India's decision to buy Russian systems over pricier American platforms will be met with tangible consequences. This coercive approach is reinforced by Senator Lindsey Graham's stark warnings that continued defence or energy deals with Russia could trigger severe economic repercussions for India. Graham has threatened 100 per cent tariffs on oil imports from Russia and proposed legislation enabling up to 500 per cent tariffs on countries helping Russia, directly targeting India's significant energy imports from Moscow. Negotiating Through Exaggeration This theatre of lies is also part of Trump's broader negotiating tactic, especially as trade talks between both countries are ongoing. Trump's negotiation style relies heavily on 'truthful hyperbole"—a strategy he outlined in 'The Art of the Deal'. His approach follows a predictable pattern: start with extreme positions, create disruption and chaos, normalise the absurd through repetition, and then pull negotiations toward his anchor point. Trump's repeated claims about mediating the India-Pakistan conflict serve multiple purposes in this framework. First, they establish him as an indispensable broker, positioning America as the ultimate arbiter of 'South Asian" security. Second, they create artificial leverage in trade negotiations by suggesting that India's security depends on American goodwill. The Trump administration has formally told a US federal court that trade access was used as an incentive to 'avert a full-scale war" between India and Pakistan, demonstrating how these claims are being institutionalised to justify broader trade policies. The strategy is part of Trump's overarching belief that 'leverage is everything". By threatening withdrawal from trade agreements, imposing unilateral import restrictions and creating artificial crises, Trump seeks to reshape global trade dynamics in America's favour. Trump's false claims about India-Pakistan mediation also serve his domestic political needs. After all, he promised to end the wars between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Hamas, as soon as he took office for his second term. Yet, he has spectacularly failed to deliver on these grandiose promises. More than 100 days into his presidency, both conflicts have not only continued but escalated. Israel launched a new war against Iran in June 2025, while Russia has stepped up its assault on Ukraine. The Gaza ceasefire that Trump claimed credit for collapsed within weeks. In this context, his fabricated claims about mediating India-Pakistan tensions serve as a substitute success story. By repeatedly asserting that he prevented a nuclear conflict in the Indian Subcontinent, Trump attempts to maintain his image as a global peacemaker despite his stark failures elsewhere. The claims allow him to project strength and dealmaking prowess to his domestic audience. India's Categorical Rejection India's response to Trump's claims has been unequivocal and consistent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally told Trump in a phone conversation that 'India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never do so in the future". On the floor of the Lok Sabha, PM Modi debunked Trump's claims of mediating a ceasefire, saying no world leader asked India to stop. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has repeatedly clarified that no trade discussions occurred during the May conflict and that the ceasefire was achieved through direct military-to-military communication between India and Pakistan. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised that 'there was no conversation between PM Modi and Trump between April 22 and June 17", directly contradicting Trump's timeline of events. Despite this clear position, the Congress party has chosen to give credence to Trump's fabrications rather than their own government's statements. This suggests a troubling willingness to accept foreign assertions over domestic clarifications, particularly when those assertions come from a leader with a well-documented history of dishonesty. It also represents a fundamental misunderstanding of Trump's modus operandi. His claims are not factual statements to be verified but strategic tools designed to create pressure and extract concessions. By treating Trump's lies as credible enough to warrant investigation, the Opposition is helping legitimise his tactics and providing him with the domestic Indian controversy he needs to maintain pressure on the Modi government. The Congress' stance becomes even more problematic when viewed against Trump's broader pattern of coercion. His administration's threats of economic consequences for countries maintaining ties with Russia are clearly designed to pressure India into aligning more closely with American strategic interests. By amplifying Trump's claims through parliamentary debates and public statements, the Opposition risks playing into a narrative that portrays India as dependent on American mediation for regional stability. top videos View all Trump's theatre of lies regarding India-Pakistan mediation reveals the intersection of his domestic political needs, strategic arms sales objectives, and signature negotiating tactics. His repeated false claims serve multiple purposes: maintaining his peacemaker image despite foreign policy failures, pressuring India toward American defence purchases, and creating artificial leverage in trade negotiations. The tragedy lies not in Trump's predictable dishonesty—that is simply his established modus operandi—but in India's Opposition choosing to legitimise these fabrications through their misplaced outrage. In doing so, they risk undermining India's sovereignty and playing directly into the hands of a master manipulator who views truth as just another negotiating chip. About the Author Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a producer and video journalist at Network18. He is enthusiastic about and writes on both national affairs as well as geopolitics. tags : Congresss donald trump Rahul Gandhi Straight Talk United states view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 30, 2025, 12:34 IST News opinion Straight Talk | Trump's Theatre Of Lies: India's Opposition Falls For Master Manipulator's Claims Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
As HMS Prince of Wales cruises the Pacific, it's time to take a look at our Carrier Air
There have been two developments this month that concern the future of Royal Navy carrier-borne aviation, one negative and one positive. The negative one was the National Audit Office's report on the UK's F-35 capability. The second was the positive progress on uncrewed systems to operate from our two aircraft carriers. In the NAO report on the F-35, there are some positives. It's a good jet, 'many times more able to survive and successfully deliver attacks than previous UK aircraft.' It starts looking less positive when current capabilities are compared to various MoD targets. 'Approximately one third of the fleet was available to perform all required missions in 2024'. 'Approximately half were available to perform at least one of seven possible missions'. The current carrier strike group deployment has forced the issues with lack of engineers into the spotlight whilst the lack of global spares was rather embarrassingly exposed during the same deployment by the jet stranded in India recently. The delivery forecast is grim and costs are high. So far we have received 38 jets and spent $11bn, giving a rough figure of £289m per jet. That sounds very shocking, and indeed it is, but we should remember that the RAF's 90-odd flyable Typhoons cost us something like £35bn in today's money to acquire – a nose-bleeding £388m per jet. And they are fourth generation, whereas the F-35 is a modern fifth generation fighter. So it could be worse.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Magnificent Dividend Stock Down 25% to Buy and Hold Forever
Key Points Lockheed Martin's stock has declined due to concerns over its F-35 program. These concerns appear overstated. The stock offers a strong dividend and double-digit growth at a compelling valuation. 10 stocks we like better than Lockheed Martin › Don't underestimate the value a dividend can bring to your portfolio. Some people think dividend-paying companies are boring. While they aren't always flashy, a dividend is a badge of honor that signals the business is doing so well that it earns more profits than it needs. As a result, the business shares a portion of those earnings with investors. The best companies can consistently increase their dividends, which generally requires continuous growth and success. Yes, that means they tend to make fantastic buy-and-hold stocks. That said, all stocks go through adversity at some point. Famous defense and aerospace leader Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has tumbled 25% from its all-time high. Here's why investors may want to buy this dip and hold on to this magnificent dividend stock for the long haul. Why has Lockheed Martin declined so much while the broader market pushes to all-time highs? It's generally an eyebrow-raiser when the stock of what many would consider an established company declines significantly while the broader market is doing well. Lockheed Martin, in a way, is a publicly traded extension of the United States military-industrial complex. It's among the world's largest defense contractors, generating the vast majority of its revenue by selling various weapons and defense products used by the U.S. military and its allies on land, at sea, and in space. The stock has lagged behind both the broader market and its defense industry peers in 2025. Investors appear concerned about Lockheed Martin's growth prospects after it lost its bid to build the sixth-generation Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet to Boeing. Lockheed Martin's fifth-generation fighter jet, the F-35, is its flagship weapon program, but it has been criticized over the years for its numerous delays and massive price tag. The Air Force anticipates Boeing's upcoming jet, dubbed the F-47, could be operational sometime between now and 2029. Don't write Lockheed Martin off just yet The selling pressure on Lockheed Martin may be an overreaction, at least for now. Even though the Air Force anticipates the F-47 taking flight by 2029, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be production-ready. If the F-35's numerous delays and cost overruns prove anything, it's how complex and challenging these machines are to perfect. A lot could change over the next several years, and the F-35 is still critically important in the meantime. Additionally, Lockheed Martin plans to upgrade its F-35 to achieve much of the functionality of a next-generation jet, but at a much lower cost. That could appeal to Washington, D.C. and help preserve a weapon program that the U.S. government has already invested a significant amount of time and money in. Lastly, Lockheed Martin has a diverse portfolio, including satellites and missile systems, that should remain critical to the U.S. and its interests moving forward. The company is also working on a highly classified aeronautics program, which management described as game-changing for the military, and emphasized the importance of successfully fielding it, despite charges that weighed on Lockheed Martin's recent earnings. What Lockheed Martin offers the buy-and-hold investor Lockheed Martin is still a total package with a lot to offer long-term investors. For starters, it has a generous dividend that strikes a balance between growth and income. The stock yields nearly 2.9% at its current share price, and management has raised the dividend for 22 consecutive years, and by an average of 8.8% annually over the past decade. The worries surrounding Lockheed Martin have driven the stock down to just 20 times its trailing 12-month free cash flow, the lowest among its peer defense stocks, and just 14 times the company's guided 2025 cash flow. From an earnings standpoint, analysts still believe Lockheed Martin will achieve 10% to 11% annualized earnings growth over the next three to five years. I'd say Lockheed Martin's stock reflects a lot of negative sentiment at this point, which could mean larger investment returns if things break well for the company over time. Barring any dramatic valuation swings, the stock could deliver 12% to 14% annualized total returns if it simply meets Wall Street's expectations. That seems worthy of a leap of faith for one of the most important companies to America's national security. Should you invest $1,000 in Lockheed Martin right now? Before you buy stock in Lockheed Martin, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Lockheed Martin wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,774!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,942!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,040% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Magnificent Dividend Stock Down 25% to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges with ...
Revenue: $18.2 billion for the second quarter, comparable year-over-year and up sequentially from the first quarter. Sales Growth: Excluding charges, sales increased in the mid-single-digit range. Segment Operating Profit: $570 million, impacted by $1.6 billion in charges related to Skunk Works and Sikorsky. Net Losses: $1.8 billion in total charges across several legacy programs. Earnings Per Share (EPS): $1.46, reduced by $5.83 due to program losses and tax items. Free Cash Flow: Usage of $150 million in the second quarter. Shareholder Returns: $1.3 billion returned through dividends and share repurchases. F-35 Deliveries: 50 aircraft delivered in the quarter, with a total of 97 so far this year. Guidance: 2025 sales guidance reaffirmed at $73.75 billion to $74.75 billion. Backlog: $167 billion, with significant awards expected in the second half of the year. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Signs with LMT. Release Date: July 22, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT) reported $18 billion in sales for the second quarter, demonstrating strong revenue generation. The company invested $800 million in infrastructure and innovation, indicating a commitment to future growth. Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT) returned $1.3 billion to shareholders, showcasing a strong commitment to shareholder value. The F-35 program remains on track with 97 deliveries so far this year, highlighting operational efficiency. Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT) demonstrated the effectiveness of its systems in recent combat operations, reinforcing its role in national security. Negative Points Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT) recognized $1.8 billion in losses across several legacy programs, impacting financial performance. The company faced significant charges related to the Aeronautics Classified Program and other legacy programs, indicating ongoing challenges. US government sanctions affected the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program, resulting in a $95 million loss. The Canadian Maritime Helicopter Program incurred a $570 million loss due to revised cost and sales estimates. The IRS asserts that Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT) owes $4.6 billion in additional income tax, creating potential financial uncertainty. Q & A Highlights Q: Why should investors feel comfortable that Lockheed Martin has derisked the problem programs, particularly the Aero Classified one? What changes have been made? A: James Taiclet, CEO, explained that with Evan Scott's succession as CFO, a new program review team was formed with wider expertise and higher-level management scrutiny. This team reassessed cost trends and reevaluated program assumptions, leading to additional charges. The programs will continue to be monitored with robust oversight, and there is a policy in place to avoid must-win programs, ensuring no outsized future risks. Q: Why did it take a billion dollars of charges to change the way you're reviewing the Aero Classified program? How does the $1.8 billion in charges affect cash flow? A: James Taiclet noted that the charges were due to new discoveries of cost risks and anomalies in the development phase. Evan Scott added that $500 million of cash usage is expected this year, stepping down to $400 million next year, with a line of sight to when it turns positive. Q: Can you explain the reduction in the F-35 units in the administration's FY26 request and how easy it is to swap out relinquished DoD slots with export customers? A: James Taiclet stated that the House Appropriations Committee increased the number of F-35s from 47 to 69, and the Senate marked it up to 57. Historically, appropriations committees have the final say, and there is hope for greater demand by the end of the budget process. Evan Scott added that the backlog remains strong, allowing flexibility in production planning. Q: What is the $4.6 billion tax liability related to, and how will it impact free cash flow? A: Evan Scott explained that the IRS's position on a tax accounting method change is being contested, with Lockheed Martin standing by its approach. A $100 million P&L charge was taken for interest. For 2026, a $1 billion pension contribution is assumed, with various factors impacting cash flow, including reach-forward charges and tax benefits. Q: Can you discuss the F-35's role in modern warfare and its priority for the DoD today? A: James Taiclet emphasized the F-35's critical role in modern warfare, citing its orchestration capabilities and combat-proven status. Despite budget cuts, the F-35 remains essential, and Lockheed Martin is focused on bridging capabilities to the next generation while maintaining strong international demand. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Reworked F-35 Pitched As ‘Bridging Fighter' Ahead Of F-47
Taiclet then moved on to the company's proposal to provide the F-35 with a range of potential modifications to create what was previously referred to as a 'Ferrari' or 'NASCAR upgrade' to the F-35's core 'chassis.' The company is now increasingly describing this initiative as a 'fifth-generation-plus' development of the basic F-35. As to what comes next for the F-35, Taiclet said he was 'very, very confident that the F-35 is here to stay and here to stay for a long time,' recalling that fact that it is the 'only fifth-generation fighter aircraft in production today in the free world.' Taiclet noted that, as well as air-to-ground, the F-35 has, in recent campaigns in the Middle East, excelled in terms of its 'orchestration of numerous other platforms.' Those other platforms have included assets at sea, in space, as well as other aircraft, including fourth-generation ones. Talking about the F-35, Taiclet pointed to the aircraft's success in the U.S. attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran last month, Operation Midnight Hammer . The CEO describes that particular mission as being 'led by the F-22 and F-35.' Between them, the stealth fighters 'provided the air dominance and defense suppression required for the bombers to reach Iran's hardened nuclear sites,' Taiclet said. 'Our platforms operated essentially undetected in highly defended and contested airspace, underscoring the value of advanced stealth, superior electronic warfare, and broadband communications capability.' In the second quarter, Lockheed Martin delivered 50 F-35s, bringing the company's total deliveries for the year to 97. More significantly, the manufacturer has now handed over 207 F-35s since it resumed deliveries last year , having paused them for around a year due to problems with the vital Tech Refresh 3 suite, or TR-3. The company says it is now on track to deliver between 170 and 190 F-35s this year. These details and more were provided in a second-quarter earnings call earlier today that involved Taiclet as well as Lockheed Martin Chief Financial Officer Evan Scott, and Maria Ricciardone, the company's Vice-President, Treasurer and Investor Relations. Lockheed Martin envisages its F-35 stealth jet as the 'bridging fighter' that will allow the U.S. Air Force to transition to the sixth-generation F-47, from rival Boeing. Speaking today, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet reiterated the goal of inserting technologies developed under the company's unsuccessful Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) bid into a future version of the F-35. At the same time, the company discussed 'a highly classified program' in the aeronautical sector on which it admits it has so far suffered significant financial losses. La historia continúa 'We did bid on NGAD, and we weren't selected,' Taiclet reflected, referring to Lockheed Martin's loss to Boeing, which is now building the F-47 crewed sixth-generation fighter to meet that requirement. An artist rendering of Boeing's F-47. U.S. Air Force 'But the pivot that we made is one we're taking very seriously, which is how we create a bridge from today's fifth generation to the sixth-generation NGAD, which might not be fielded for a lot of years,' Taiclet said. 'How do we bridge capability there?' Taiclet continued. 'We're going to port a lot of our own NGAD R&D over to the F-35 and potentially over to the F-22 as well.' The CEO again stated the aspiration to develop modifications to the F-35 that mean the company can offer 80 percent of the effectiveness of a sixth-generation fighter, at 50 percent of the cost per unit. Taiclet added that, in terms of matching capabilities, the 80 percent figure also referred to the degree of stealth, as well as 'other aspects.' The fifth-generation-plus version of the F-35 is, Taiclet contended, 'the best-value option for the U.S. government going forward; it will be only one I'm aware of that will make that bridge, for maybe 10 years.' Not immediately clear is whether Taiclet expects a major delay on the F-47 program that will make an interim fighter a more urgent priority, although that would be one interpretation of this. As it stands, the Air Force has not said when it expects the F-47 to achieve initial operating capability. An Air Force graphic that states the F-47 would become operational between 2025 and 2029 very likely refers to the planned first flight of the F-47 and some of its developmental testing, as you can read about here. U.S. Air Force Although not discussed today in the course of the earnings call, in the past, Lockheed Martin has raised the possibility of a pilot-optional F-35, as well as new infrared and radar coatings. This latter modification corresponds with secretive U.S. military testing in recent years of new mirror-like coatings on F-35s, as well as F-22 Raptor and F-117 Nighthawk stealth jets. A U.S. Navy F-35C test jet with a mirror-like coating. U.S. Navy Other F-35 modifications discussed by the company include electronic warfare improvements, networking improvements, and autonomy. Lockheed Martin has also previously discussed potential changes to the F-35's outer mold line, especially with regard to the engine inlets and exhaust nozzle. Meanwhile, the feasibility of the fifth-generation-plus proposal, as well as the huge claims around the capability/cost match of such an aircraft compared to a sixth-generation design, remains very much open to question. However, the company is confident that such advances are not only possible but can also be achieved rapidly, if required. Earlier this year, Taiclet said he thought that, in the space of two to three years, it would be possible to port enough of the NGAD technologies over into the F-35 to provide 'a meaningful increase in capability for the F-35.' That two-to-three-year timeline related to 'first flight and integration,' Taiclet added. A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a U.S. Air Force F-35A off the coast of Greece in October 2024. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Edgar Grimaldo Senior Airman Edgar Grimaldo It's also worth noting that, earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned the so-called F-55, a purported development of the F-35. Trump described the F-55 as a twin-engined F-35 and also discussed an 'F-22 Super' that would be an upgraded version of the Raptor. The exact status of the F-55 remains unclear, if it ever existed. Taiclet also discussed a separate 'highly classified' aeronautical program being run by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, as a part of that division's efforts to 'push the boundaries of science and technology to deliver highly advanced solutions that provide our customers a step-function advantage over potential adversaries.' It's notable that such a project would even be mentioned, although its discussion within the context of the earnings call was limited to the losses that it has accumulated for the company. There was no indication whether the platform is crewed or uncrewed, or what kind of mission it will fulfil, although there have been other reports of secretive Skunk Works projects going over budget. F-35s under construction. Lockheed Martin 'This particular program discovered new insights in the quarter that required us to adjust our expected future costs on that program and then recognized the charge for doing so,' Taiclet added. 'I acknowledge the losses on this classified program are significant. Again, we are taking these charges very seriously.' In response to the losses, Lockheed Martin has made changes to the program team management and assigned experts across the company to improve the performance and oversight of this program under what Taiclet said was 'a comprehensive risk-identification and corrective action plan.' 'This is a highly classified program that can only be described as a game-changing capability for our joint U.S. and international customers,' Taiclet added, 'and therefore it is critical that it be successfully fielded.' With the classified program now at least being publicly acknowledged for the benefit of company shareholders, it's possible that more information about it might begin to emerge. Clearly, however, Lockheed Martin's efforts to develop advanced new aerospace technologies encompass programs above and beyond its ongoing efforts to rework the F-35. Contact the author: thomas@
