US aims for $6.5b deal, hardsells F-16, F/A-18

[KashifAsrar]

US aims for $6.5b deal, hardsells F-16, F/A-18


Rajat Pandit | TNN



New Delhi: With the defence ministry finally getting ready to jump-start the $6.5-billion deal to procure 126 multi-role combat aircraft, the Bush administration has put its full weight behind the American companies in the race to bag this ‘‘mother of all defence deals’’.
The US, in fact, used the Indo-US Defence Procurement and Production Group (DPPG) and Defence Policy Group (DPG) meetings here this week to hardsell the F/A-18 ‘‘Super Hornets’’ and F-16 ‘‘Falcons’’, manufactured by Boeing and Lockheed Martin respectively. American officials told their Indian counterparts that the contract would be a major step towards boosting defence-industrial cooperation between the two countries.
India could even become ‘‘an Asian hub’’ for production and maintenance of American-origin fighters being operated in the region.
The contract, after all, envisages off-the-shelf purchase of only around two dozen fighters out of the 126, with the rest being produced in India under transfer of technology. But the F/A-18 and F-16 will have to contend with the Russian MiG-35, French Rafale, Swedish JAS-39 Gripen and Eurofighter Typhoon jets in the race.
‘‘The request for proposal for the 126 fighters is almost ready,’’ said an Indian official.

Govt clears purchase of 6 Sea King choppers:

Decks have been cleared for the purchase of six refurbished Sea King helicopters from the US to operate from the amphibious transport warship USS Trenton. ‘‘The government has cleared the proposal. The utility and search-and-rescue helicopters will be delivered along with Trenton by February 2007,’’ said Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta on Friday. TNN

 

[Awesome]

‘‘The request for proposal for the 126 fighters is almost ready,’’ said an Indian official.

lol... C'mon man get over with it already...

I so know they are going to do the emotional thing and got for the American planes and ditch the Russian Mig-35s.

 

[Cheetah786]

cant wait for the indians to buy these birds .as if there is any pro american idiots that are left in pakistans political system will have no choice but to change.as indians having the Americans weapons means Army will have to look else where or work on producing it them selfs.and i prefer for them to keep trying to produce it them selfs as in the long run thats the best for pakistan.:flag:

 

[vnomad]

Its not $6.5 billion anymore. Its $9billion. They are rumors that it has been increased to $11 billion.

 

[joey]

This phuking Rajat Pandit needs some spanking from his mom.
Paid by boeing and probably his tution fee in UCLA waived, hes now writing these articles.

guys this is simple propaganda.
India didnt decide anything yet.
hopefully IAF will decide what to buy and now this reporter.

Ps :Rajat Pandit , Sengupta "who said scorpene = akula" etc etc all are foreign funded propaganded journalist.
please dont post their articles.
its simply BS.

 

[MIG_ACE]

This phuking Rajat Pandit needs some spanking from his mom.
Paid by boeing and probably his tution fee in UCLA waived, hes now writing these articles.

guys this is simple propaganda.
India didnt decide anything yet.
hopefully IAF will decide what to buy and now this reporter.

Ps :Rajat Pandit , Sengupta "who said scorpene = akula" etc etc all are foreign funded propaganded journalist.
please dont post their articles.
its simply BS.

I agree with you.We need good defence journalists in India. Most of the current ones are dickheads on foreign payroll.

 

[KashifAsrar]

What do you mean guys?
You mean this guy Rajat Pandit is BS? But he is a regular writer in many daily english newspapers in India.
Kashif

 

[EagleEyes]

Super Hornets are probably a best go for IAF. It will make a huge difference for them, if they are bought, they must remember the maintenance cost and spare parts problem. Boeing will certainly not transfer technology.

 

[joey]

Kashif bro this is well known fact.
If you visit the best defence forums and mix with some real defence guys u'll know what kind of things goes on.
This reporter is completely biased.

There are reporters who are funded by non plofiliration lobby to write against nuclear india.
there are reporters funded by various companies to write for winning tender.
india is a big foul politics.

just like mr shv got busted some time ago.

 

[vnomad]

I agree that they're dumbshits, but bankrolled by lobbies? Slightly hard to swallow.