Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Flickr Photo Pool -> Airliners-India -> Military Aviation and Space -> Arms Americana: US opens military barn door for India
Post Info TOPIC: Arms Americana: US opens military barn door for India
Aseem


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 599
Date:
Arms Americana: US opens military barn door for India
Permalink Closed










Arms Americana: US opens military barn door for India


"Then one day it began changing. Early last year, a top Boeing executive received a phone call from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's office. The US was going to finally clear the sale of F-16s (made by Boeing's rival-in-arms Lockheed Martin) to Pakistan. But the Secretary was keen to offer India more advanced F-16s and even newer Boeing-made F/A-18 Super Hornets in keeping with the strategic shift in the region. Was Boeing prepared for that?

"We were all stunned," another Boeing executive, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the exchanges, recalled. "This is a new generation combat aircraft that we have not sold to our closest allies. Outside the US Navy, no one has it. Yet here was the Secretary asking if we were ready to sell to India and also ready for joint production." Boeing's reply was swift: Sure thing.

In mid-March 2005, Rice traveled to New Delhi for what would only later be revealed as a path-breaking visit ' of the kind Henry Kissinger made to Beijing in 1970. Amid a raft of issues that would dramatically redefine US strategic interests in Asia, Rice not only sounded out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the nuclear deal, but also suggested India not be too worried about US supply of F-16s to Pakistan because India could have its pick of US arms from here on."


The point to be noted is that nobody outside US Navy has these planes. How far does this factor weight as compared to price being offered? 


Also, considering India is so particular about transfer of technology and joint production, will the US allow any of those?


thnx


VT-ASJ 



__________________
Vive Le YYZ
the_380


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2450
Date:
Permalink Closed

its not true F-16s are trusted in many air force worldwide like Belgium pakistan, etc. F-18s are with Canada, Australia, etc.


India has just spoken at primary levels but we wont be seeing F-18 so easily they cost  very much



__________________
Light travels faster than sound...thats why people appear bright, until you hear them talk!
stealthpilot


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 37
Date:
Permalink Closed


I don’t think we should even waste our time looking at the F16s. They are good, but not top of the line.


Now I don’t know that much about the military deal, aside from the fact that India wants to buy 135 odd strike fighters. The F18-E is a brilliant aircraft, and proven to be reliable and effective when carrier based. I am not entire sure about this fact- but I would imagine them to be superior to the Mig 29-K.


The article isn’t referring to the F18, but the super hornet. I was a little surprised to read that no other nation has them, but in a brief Google search (keeping away from Indian press) it seems that the only customer is the US Navy.


eP007



__________________
VABBy


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 298
Date:
Permalink Closed

 


Is F-18 better than the Sukhoi 30 MKI??? which we already have...


 Just wondering why F-18 why not F-22 the latest one. The aussies are dumping their F-18,s for F-22,s so even if they are offering F-18 wouldnt that be an outdated aircraft...


 How good is the eurofighter?? Even Singapore has ordered this machine....


 


 



__________________
Friend in need is a Friend indeed
the_380


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2450
Date:
Permalink Closed

THE LATEST ARTICLE ON 28th MAY '06 SAYS:


"India has invited offers to its armed forces. Boeing has a lot to say with its P8-A it is offering to Indian Navy in place for its Il-76. Boeing has also offered India the F-22 Raptor. However Indian officials have not considered the aircraft probably due to capitals. Boeing is even offering ''F/A-18E Super Hornet'' to Indian Air Force and Navy. Meanwhile EADS has Eurofighter Typhoon to offer. Reports say Dassault is to offer its "Rafale" to Indian Air Force. The F-16C however ruled out because India's rival has it, USA is not offering it but Indian officials still have an eye on that too"


Please this is not an exact newspaper article this is form a report of a media channel. 


Quoting Vabby:


Is F-18 better than the Sukhoi 30 MKI??? which we already have...


 Just wondering why F-18 why not F-22 the latest one. The aussies are dumping their F-18,s for F-22,s so even if they are offering F-18 wouldnt that be an outdated aircraft...


How good is the eurofighter?? Even Singapore has ordered this machine....


F-18 and Su-30 are almost equally good. Infact the Su-30 is better than F-18 and F-16 in many respects.


F-22 is much more expensive than F-18 (i think each piece comes to about 250mn USD-if i m not wrong).


Eurofighter is also good in many ways like the Typhoon they say is equally good in performence to the F-22 except for the stealth features with Raptor.



__________________
Light travels faster than sound...thats why people appear bright, until you hear them talk!
HAWK21M


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1632
Date:
Permalink Closed

Does the US Order IF Placed,come with NO SANCTIONS IN FUTURE Deal :)
Thats an Important Consideration
regds
MEL

__________________
Think of the Brighter Side !!!
vivekman


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 527
Date:
Permalink Closed


Totally agree with you on this. Sanctions would severely affect the procurement of spare parts and servicing of these aircraft in the future. We have already seen this happening in the case of the Sea Harrier aircraft.


Yes, the F/A-18E Super Hornet is a great fighter but it does not have the extreme maneuverability that the Su-30MKI has due to the lack of thrust vectoring engines.


F-22 Raptor is going to be an extremely expensive proposition for India, even if the US offers it to the IAF. Taking these things into consideration, the Super Hornets seem to be a good option. However, before plunging into the deal, it would make sense to evaluate the Rafale and the Eurofighter as well!


- Vivek


HAWK21M wrote:


Does the US Order IF Placed,come with NO SANCTIONS IN FUTURE Deal :) Thats an Important Consideration regds MEL





__________________
Aseem


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 599
Date:
Permalink Closed

vivekman wrote:

 However, before plunging into the deal, it would make sense to evaluate the Rafale and the Eurofighter as well!

Was wondering why everybody left out Rafale.  It is supposed to be favourite among IAF top brass due to its close compatibilty with Mirage 2000. 


Another question, why is the deal not heavily in favour of SU-30MKI considering it is an excellent machine and is already there in inventory?


rgds


VT-ASJ



__________________
Vive Le YYZ
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Flickr Photo Pool -> Airliners-India -> Military Aviation and Space -> Arms Americana: US opens military barn door for India
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard