You and other respected posters seem to have taken my post as offensive, which was not my intent. I am merely talking from a marketeer's perspective. As a marketing manager you do not want your product to be associated with some segments of customers--for example Ferrari doesn't want its brand to be associated with newly rich or Mars/Snicker etc do not want to be associated with obesity. I am sure marketing people at Boeing must have taken in to account the image IAF brings with it i.e. they are known to have crashed a few birds without effort. That's all I am saying, though to IAF's advantage F-18 has almost reached end of its lifecycle roadmap as a platform, so Boeing might not be too worried about other customers at this stage. Peace.
Its funny how every single point here is wrong
1. "fRom a mArKeteRs pErsPectiVe " Countries buying fighter planes is not the same as people watching ads or looking at cars , No country or air force buys a jet without thorough evaluation of the platform and its performance ,Nobody is stupid enough to look at 50 yr old Mig21's crashing and think that would impact the "image " of their new products .
If anything its the buyer(s) who should be vary of the " marketer" Boeing considering the shady practices and culture that has come to light since the MAX crashes
2. Boeing specifically spent a huge amount of money and time lobbying (succesfully ) for India to buy their products ,First the Globemasters then the Poseidons ,Chinooks,Apaches and now the Romeos . They were among the first ones to offer their f-18s way back in early 00's when the first MRCA was launched and are still spending millions on to display SH's capability to launch from ski jumps and fit on Indian carriers .
Does that sound like a company apprehensive of Indian usage of their products ?
3. Boeing also shifted production of airframes for their helos to India and just last week also announced that parts for 737 will be built in Hyderabad ... Does that sound like a company apprehensive of Indian quality control ?
4. F-18 has not reached the end of its lifecycle roadmap , Not even close ...The SuperHornet will continue in the USN for decades to come and still has upgrades left to receive , The f-35C isn't being acquired in enough numbers to replace it ,
USN is spending Billions to upgrade older blocks and legacy jets to the latest standard .
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericte...---here-are-the-key-upgrades/?sh=249ab37c3d38