No aircraft engines to Pak, please

[TomCat111]

‘No aircraft engines to Pak, please’

Shishir Gupta | Posted online: Sunday, December 24, 2006 at 0000 hrs

That’s what Delhi is telling Moscow on the China-Pak fighter aircraft JV; will raise with Putin too when he’s here for R-Day

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 23: India is quietly trying to persuade Russia not to supply aircraft engines for the China-Pakistan Joint Fighter-17 project arguing that supply of these multi-role planes to Islamabad will have “serious security ramifications” for the subcontinent.

While Russian officials, in ongoing talks, have told New Delhi that under contractual obligations, China will have to take Russian permission before it exports the fighters to Islamabad, the feeling in New Delhi is that given Pakistan’s stakes — it has invested an estimated $400 million in the entire joint venture — the issue needs to be taken up at the highest political level during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit next month.

New Delhi’s concerns over the JF-17 Thunder fighter project were conveyed by Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt to the high-power Russian defence delegation for the Inter-Governmental Military Technical Cooperation Meeting this week.

The Thunder project, a 50:50 joint venture between Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, will commence in March 2007 with an initial production of 16 aircraft for Islamabad. Under the contract signed between China and Russia, Moscow will supply 100 RD-93 (used in Indian MiG-29s) engines with an option of another 400.

The issue was raised on the sidelines of the India-Russia cooperation meeting on December 20-21, which was attended by General Alexander Dennisov, Deputy Director of Russian Federal Service on Military Technical Cooperation, and Yuriy Koptev, Co-Chairman of Russian Ship, Aviation and Land Systems.

The Indian side was led by Secretary (Defence Production) K P Singh and Director General (Acquisition) S. Bannerjee. This meeting laid the framework for Defence Minister A K Antony meeting his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov during Putin’s three-day visit beginning January 24, 2007 (Putin is also the chief guest for Republic Day).

Reminding Russia of its commitment as a strategic partner, New Delhi had raised the issue last September with Moscow when Dutt met Mikhail Dmitriyev, First Deputy Defence Minister. Dutt had gone to review the progress of the Russian Akula class nuclear submarine that is to be leased to India.

New Delhi told Moscow officials that with Islamabad involved in the project, there was no way that Moscow could stop Beijing from giving the JF-17 fighters to Islamabad. While India accounts for 38% of Russian defence exports, China tops with 45%.

That New Delhi is extremely concerned over the JF-17 project becomes clear from the fact that the Indian Air Force may be asked to do an assessment of these planes in the context of regional security. The other Chinese J-10 fighter project also uses Russian Al-31 aircraft engines, which are also used in Indian Su-30 MKI.

 

[Janbaz]

Weep Weep Weep, Weep all the way! The failiure of the LCA is stinging and to show that JF-17 failed India will beg Russia to stop delivery fo these engines! Pathetic nature at its climax!

 

[TomCat111]

Why doesn’t Pakistan secure an engine from a Western source?

 

[Muradk]

In other words we can say India is now ------- in there pants, why is a country who is 5 times bigger in size so worried ?????.

 

[Muradk]

Why doesn’t Pakistan secure an engine from a Western source?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

 

[TomCat111]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Cost vs. benefit outweighs $

 

[Neo]

Why doesn’t Pakistan secure an engine from a Western source?

Actually there is another alternative, the SNECMA Atar-9C wich would have been used incase RD-93 failed.
There's always a plan B.

 

[Neo]

‘No aircraft engines to Pak, please’

That’s what Delhi is telling Moscow on the China-Pak fighter aircraft JV; will raise with Putin too when he’s here for R-Day

* Don't sell F-16 to Pakistan
* Don't sell P-3C to pakistan
* Don't sell Erieye to Pakistan
* Don't grant MNNA to Pakistan
* Don't make Pakistan an ally in WoT

So many don'ts didn't work sofar, but hey you can always beg once more...right?

 

[EagleEyes]

I can say this, I haven't seen a "cry baby enemy" worst than India.

 

[salman77]

I can say this, I haven't seen a "cry baby enemy" worst than India.

Good one

 

[Janbaz]

Like i said Weep and Weep. Its disgusting to have your enemy cry so bad! Pakistan never cries when India gets all the military hardware regardless of the nation it originates from!

 

[EagleEyes]

I just see it as a poor attempt by India to stop the sales. I am pretty sure that the 500 engines which Chinese have already recieved will be equipped in the JF-17 Thunder and FC-1 Fighter and India will be ignored.

 

[PakSniper]

I can say this, I haven't seen a "cry baby enemy" worst than India.

Couldn't have agreed more., even when we want an enemy we can't get anything better than this., what did we do wrong to get a pathetic neighbor. :lol1:

 

[Awesome]

This is outrageous!

Those 100 engines must've already been supplied by now right? Delivery is just around the corner.

 

[Awesome]

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1071461

Indian Americans seek to stop US missile sale to Pakistan
Arun Kumar / IANS
Wednesday, December 27, 2006 12:27 IST

WASHINGTON: Indian Americans are making a valiant bid to halt the proposed US sale of a billion dollar arms package to Pakistan, including TOW-2A Anti-Armour Guided Missiles and E-2C Hawkeye 2000 Airborne Early Warning system.



Under the rules, the proposed sales will go through on Jan 7 unless the US Congress specifically disapproves them within 30 days of being notified by Pentagon on Dec 7 - a highly unlikely prospect as the newly elected Congress begins its session only on Jan 4.



TOW-2A missiles, which the Pentagon claimed would "enable Pakistan to support US operations against terrorist activity along its porous borders," could reach $185 million. E-2C HAWKEYE 2000 system for three P-3 aircraft could cost another $855 million.



Undeterred by the near futility of their efforts given that a $5.1 billion dollar deal for F-16 planes went through last July with no more than a Congressional rap on the knuckles, Indian Americans have mounted a campaign to inform the lawmakers about the implication of the missile sale to Pakistan for US national security interests.



Spurred by the US-India Friendship, a voluntary effort of Indian Americans, several US voters of Indian origin have sent e-mails to their elected representatives pointing out that such "a serious decision" has been taken in a sort of legislative vacuum.



The notification was issued Dec 7 - less than two days before the outgoing 109th Congress ended its lame-duck session in the early hours of Dec 9 - and the 30-day notice period expires Jan 6 - just three days after the newly elected 110th Congress takes office on Jan 3.



If it happens, it will take place without Congressional oversight into a sale of high tech and possible dual use military equipment, with serious national security implications, said Hari Iyer urging his area representatives "to ask for a deferment of the sales so that you can perform your constitutionally required duty".



Another Indian American, B K Vasan, warned that even if a small percentage of these weapons fall into the hands of the Taliban, it can wreak havoc against the American and NATO forces.



Manish Thakur said selling Pakistan missiles will send the worst message at this time. For it will not only further encourage Pakistan to tolerate attacks from its territory on US troops, but it "also runs the risk of proliferation of advanced technologies to our enemies”.



Jaya Kamlani warned these US supplied arms could be used against India, as was done in 1965 during President Lyndon Johnson's presidency.



Subhash Paradkar suggested use of diplomatic leverage rather than an arms race for "the development of goodwill in the minds of the Pakistani people toward the United States and India."



However, Indian Americans apparently face an uphill task as the $5.1 billion F-16 deal for Pakistan emerged unscathed from the 30-day congressional review period last July under similar circumstances.



As the deadline for the Congress to block the deal notified by Pentagon ended then, the House of Representatives went into a month long recess without taking up resolutions by two Democratic lawmakers to block it. The issue never came up before the full Senate.



Just a week before the expiry of the deadline, the House committee on international relations upbraided the Bush administration for what it called a calculated move to diminish Congressional authority over the rushed sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, but made no move to block it.



Ranking Democrat Tom Lantos, who is set to take over as the chairman of the panel in the new House and his retiring Republican predecessor Henry Hyde later introduced a bill requiring quarterly updates on possible upcoming arms sales and enforcing a 20-day consultation period before the State Department formally notifies Congress of a proposed sale.



At the hearing John Hillen, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, admitted that the administration had chosen to waive the 20-day pre-notification period without consulting either Hyde or Lantos, but made no move to end what Democrat Brad Sherman called "this charade" of consultations.



He affirmed that the Congress had no means to stop the deal unless both the House and Senate passed resolutions rejecting it before the 30-day review ran out and then override a Bush veto.