No plan to buy F-35: Govt

[notting hill]

New Delhi: India has officially put a full stop to the frantic US pressure to enter the $10.4-billion race for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA).
Reacting to media reports that the US may offer F-35 fighter jets to re-enter the MMRCA race, the official spokesperson in the ministry of defence (MoD), Sitanshu Kar, told FE that, “We have progressed a lot in the MMRCA programme, we have crossed a lot of stages that have become part of history.”

“It is too late in the day for any new entrant,” said a senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officer on condition of anonymity.

Industry sources, agreeing with the government’s decision not to allow any new entrant in the already closed race, said: “It is a very interesting situation. The trials are over. The commercial bids are expected to be open shortly. Discussions on offset commissions are progressing well. While one government is offering its best machine,...

it will be India’s call finally.”
However, the source added that “it will be unfair to the shortlisted contenders”.

The government has shortlisted the European consortium Eurofighter’s Typhoon and the French Dassault’s Rafale fighter aircraft.

Lockheed Martin’s offering, the F-16IN, was eliminated from India’s $10.4 billion, along with rival Boeing’s F-18IN Super Hornet offering. The MMRCA deal was touted as the ‘mother of all defence deals’ in the international defence industry.

Though the Indian Air Force never seemed very interested in the F-16 Falcon from the US-based Lockheed Martin, one of the several reasons for the aircraft not being in the race could be the fact that fact that Pakistan also flies F-16s. Also Lockheed Martin could have run into problems in meeting the industrial offset provisions, given its lack of penetration in India.

India has been invited to F-35 events. With potential US order numbers dropping, India could have joined the elite programme. However,...

India chose to join hands with Russia for its Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme, which offers a semi-indigenous alternative.
The F-35 jet is still in development and the planes would cost about $133 million each. The Pentagon plans to buy more than 2,400 of them, which means that at an estimated $382 billion, it is Pentagon’s most expensive weapons programme ever. A rough estimate has it that at $133 million per unit, the cost of acquisition for the MMRCA would go up by 50 per cent should the IAF opt for the F-35. This would inflate the $11-billion MMRCA tender to $17 billion....

No plan to buy F-35: Govt

SO THERE YOU GO... THE FINAL NAIL ON THE COFFIN

 

[misterme2]

I wonder if there is corruption involving Sonia/ Rahul and the French? If this is a superior plane, why are we denying it then if the US is willing to work around the binding clauses? Oh well, you never know a nail in the coffin can always be pulled out with the same hammer used to put it in

 

[WHITESMOKE]

It was expected.. Dont know why Yankiz were singing F35 at this late stage...

 

[Skull and Bones]

Bye Bye F-35, don't forget to come back in the naval MRCA evaluation.

 

[kish]

I hope no more rumors will come out about this now . . . And even for sfc . . We should go for upgrade version of mig 35 su 35 or rafele If selected cause we already have infrastructure for all there . .

 

[kish]

I wonder if there is corruption involving Sonia/ Rahul and the French? If this is a superior plane, why are we denying it then if the US is willing to work around the binding clauses? Oh well, you never know a nail in the coffin can always be pulled out with the same hammer used to put it in

Its better jet but still in not production stage . . Same reason why mig 35 was not considered even it was in race else it would be strong contender . . . . Why they not involve this so early like france did . . When we ask then for m2k advance . . They offered rafele . .

 

[Roby]

Rafale FTW

 

[ramu]

I wonder if there is corruption involving Sonia/ Rahul and the French? If this is a superior plane, why are we denying it then if the US is willing to work around the binding clauses? Oh well, you never know a nail in the coffin can always be pulled out with the same hammer used to put it in

It is not just the plane. It is the whole package including ToT, spares and the Indian requirements. US is such a bad loser. US needs to learn how to react gracefully.

 

[Paan Singh]

good riddance..............

 

[DacterSaab]

Good Decision by the GOI

first they think they can get money by selling us outdated sh*t.
now their desperate for that $$$$.

 

[naveenp]

I wonder if there is corruption involving Sonia/ Rahul and the French? If this is a superior plane, why are we denying it then if the US is willing to work around the binding clauses? Oh well, you never know a nail in the coffin can always be pulled out with the same hammer used to put it in

“We have progressed a lot in the MMRCA programme, we have crossed a lot of stages that have become part of history.”

please read this before making such statement .we cant go for evaluate 600+ parameters again on F-35, What d u mean by this statement, d u want us to wait until 2018 or u want us to buy F-35 blindly with doing any evaluation bcz it was US fighter?

matter of fact we need full ToT which us wont do even if we buy 200+ fighters. its too late for F-35.

 

[WHITESMOKE]

Good Decision by the GOI

first they think they can get money by selling us outdated sh*t.
now their desperate for that $$$$.

You know yankis will still take some time to understand this simple fact... may be they are still in half dream....

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

I think the navy will be interested in the F-35 at some future date .

 

[prabhu]

I wonder if there is corruption involving Sonia/ Rahul and the French? If this is a superior plane, why are we denying it then if the US is willing to work around the binding clauses? Oh well, you never know a nail in the coffin can always be pulled out with the same hammer used to put it in

HAHA good joke,i dont understand y the US did not field its most advanced fighter jet in the mmrca if it was ready to bend the rules,it would have shown india that US was seriously considering India as an ally.The US still despises every other nation and thinks india would bend its rules to accomodate US.As a word of advice,when dealing with india please come up with the best u can and u shall be suitably rewarded.

 

[SpArK]

The commercial bids are expected to be open shortly. Discussions on offset commissions are progressing well. While one government is offering its best machine,...it will be India’s call finally.”
However, the source added that “it will be unfair to the shortlisted contenders”.

"one" government offering its best machine?

Which one that could be?