SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Boeing expects to make India an offer for 126 warplanes soon and will be competing against half a dozen other defence firms from the United States and Europe, an executive said on Friday.
"We are hopeful to see a request for proposals this summer. Around half a dozen companies will respond to it. We will respond to it," Jim Albaugh, chief executive of Boeing's arms business, told a briefing on the sidelines of a security conference in Singapore.
The United States said in March it was prepared to sell advanced warplanes and other high-tech arms to India after it agreed a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation pact with the south Asian nation.
Washington has said it is prepared to offer Lockheed Martin F-16 and Boeing F/A-18 jet fighters to India.
The U.S. companies are likely to come up against competition from the Eurofighter consortium, which includes BAe Systems, Airbus parent EADS and Italy's Finmeccanica.
French plane maker Dassault's Rafale fighter and the Gripen, built by Saab and BAE Systems, may also enter bids.
Albaugh said he had held talks with South Korea, which has funding for another 20 F-15 jets, but there had been no agreement yet.
U.S. and European defence companies are set to benefit from increasing weapons spending in Asia as China's military build-up spurs neighbours to buy more arms, analysts said.
Boeing estimates the Asian defence market to be worth around $5 billion a year. Its Integrated Defense Systems division had sales of around $32 billion in 2005, $2 billion of which were generated outside its home market.
Albaugh expects the share of its foreign sales to rise to 10 percent of turnover by 2011, from around 7 percent now.
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Light travels faster than sound...thats why people appear bright, until you hear them talk!
Just read an article yesterday on rediff.com which said that the Indian Air Force chief had been to Russia and he was impressed by the Mig-35 fighters.
hey i m tired of seeing these russian pieces fine Su-30s are great but dont u guys think its high time we had some European or American fighters in our fleets
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Light travels faster than sound...thats why people appear bright, until you hear them talk!
Totally agree! In fact, just after Independence, India had mostly European (British) equipment. But with the growing distance with the US, and opening up of relationship with the USSR, India decided to partner with the Russians for military hardware.
And, I think the Russian planes have served us well over the ages. They have been quite open to the idea of techology transfer even for newer aircraft!
karatecatman wrote:
Russia has been more reliable that way. Their war equipment is hardy and less expensive.
i think the US offer of planes is more of a signal of growing relationship, than an iminent order. Orginally IAF was interested in Mirages, but French chose to close the line and offered Rafaele instead.
I still wonder why IAF not going along with more SU-30MKI? Nobody doubts its capability.
Moreover what happened to the joint India-Russia production of fifth generation fighter aircraft. I know it won't be ready in time for this order, but just curious.