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Will India become main manufacturer of Pakistan's beloved F-16 jets?

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Will India become main manufacturer of Pakistan's beloved F-16 jets?
By Naveed Ahmad
Published: January 11, 2017
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File photo of a F-16 jet. PHOTO: PAF

India, wanting to upgrade its air force with 400 more fighter jets, has many foreign companies vying for its multi-billion dollar manufacturing contract. Boeing and Lockheed Martin from the US, SAAB Group from Sweden and Dassault Aviation from France are all competing to win the production order.

Lockheed Martin, which builds Pakistan’s beloved F-16 fighter jets, has offered to completely shift the manufacturing of this aircraft from Texas to India. The arrangement is subject to India agreeing to buy first 100 F-16s (Block 70-72) – the most advanced version of the fighter jet. “We make it in India, for India and then we make it in India and export to the world. If the initial orders are not there, it might not work for the industry,’’ an official for the Lockheed Martin had stated.

Turkey to modernise Pakistan’s F-16s

The proposed jet – already titled F-16IN – is being offered with a new radar system, stealth detection and threat detection capability. While F-16s in general have a smaller radar cross-section, the new block won’t have stealth capability.

If India chooses F-16s over other options, it could be a blow to Pakistan. Pakistan Air Force has been flying F-16s since the 1980s and though it has other multirole jets in its fleet, F-16s have been a crucial part of the country’s air defence mechanism. With India becoming the main manufacturer of the fighter jet, it could create hindrances for Pakistan to acquire the aircraft and its spare parts if not completely choke the supply.

Good news for Pakistan

India has not yet decided whether it seeks Saab Group’s JAS 39 Gripen or F-16 (Block 70-72) to upgrade its air defence. Given the urgency to modernise the fleet, the Indian Air Force may choose Sweden’s Gripen jets with the objective of customising to its future needs better over widely popular F-16s. The Gripen system will be alien to both Pakistan and China and it will give India a perceived edge over its regional rivals.

Blow to Pakistan? India could become next F-16 hub

Also, even if we assume Lockheed Martin is the victor, India may not have its first F-16IN delivered before 2022. Installation of the plant will take a few months. Then, it takes 36 months to deliver the first units. The total number of units per year depends on the number of assembly lines. Meanwhile, the cumbersome process of hiring and training the local manpower must be taken into account to ensure Modi’s envisaged Make-in-India goal.

Additionally, there’s the Trump factor. Will the next US administration let Lockheed Martin and other mega corporations invest billions of dollars in India and make Americans jobless? Prima facie, US President-elect Donald J Trump has categorically stated that the country was passing through the “greatest jobs theft” in the history of the world by nations such as India, China, Mexico and Singapore. He is already upping the ante for US corporations to stem outward flow of jobs. Carrier, an air-conditioner manufacturer, was the first one to attract the president-elect’s attention against investing in Mexico. Meanwhile, the automobile industry giant received an explicit threat to big border tax on vehicle manufactured at foreign plants. Ford scrapped plans to build a $1.6 billion plant in Mexico. If Lockheed Martin relocates F-16 manufacturing to India, over 2,000 Americans will be losing jobs in Fort Worth unless the company manages to absorb them in fledging F-35 program on the same campus.

Trump’s protectionism comes in direct conflict with Modi’s Make-in-India initiative. In Lockheed Martin’s case, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s reclusive policy promises less to the foreign investor while seeking the lion’s share: “self-reliance, indigenisation, technology upgrade and achieving economies of scale including development of capabilities for exports in the defence sector”.

Given these possible dangers, anxiety is soaring high in India with its largest entrepreneurial body – Associated Chambers of Commerce of India – issuing the following statement: “India needs to watch out and must build bridges with the upcoming American administration and assuage concerns about American jobs”.

Lockheed’s prospects ahead

During the Obama tenure, US-India bilateral trade has grown from $19 billion in 2009-2010 to over $120 billion in 2015, say official estimates. Last year, proponents of Make-in-India were hoping to boost the bilateral trade to $500 billion.

India to have ‘eye in the sky’ to spy on Pakistan, China

The country enjoys impressive support on both sides of the isle in Congress as well as Senate. But with Trump in the picture now, it’s obvious that the Obama administration’s emphasis on strengthening partnership with India won’t escape uncontested.

Delhi must be preparing for hard bargains and lobbying in Washington and given these hurdles, it might like to wait for a more suitable time and even more modern fighter aircraft for the Lockheed Martin to produce in India.

Naveed Ahmad is a Pakistani investigative journalist and academic with extensive reporting experience in the Middle East and North Africa. He is based in Doha and Istanbul and tweets @naveed360

I hope India go for F16, the machine we are using more then 30 years and know every weakness of that
 

Where does it say India will be forced to sell aircraft to other countries? Do you think India, or any country, for that matter would put itself in such a straitjacket? Do you think India would enter into an agreement to sell F-16s to Pakistan because it will be forced to? What world do you live in?

There's no deal for shifting F-16 production to India, but if there was one it wouldn't agree with the conditions in your absurd post.

Why anyone still wants to produce something which is half a century old, do you guys realize how fast technology develops these days.

This is why getting the Gripen would be a better idea than F-16.
 
If by some chance India does get an assembly line of F16s from the U.S to supply global customers, it would be a huge slap in the face of India. India will be only the manufacturer, and won't have a say in who they make the jets for. If Pakistan orders some fighters from Lockheed and India is asked to manufacture them, imagine the public out lash there; India is making a front line jet that will be aimed directly at them. It will be a political suicide.
India won't able to refuse the order as they would just be the manufacturers, neither could they be sly and install a dodgy component as that would be a breach of contract. Imagine the lawsuit! India will be forced to make the plane, knowing that each of these components would be used to drop bombs on them in the unlikely case of an outright war. Then, they'll have to deliver it, after testing that all the systems are in optimal condition to attack their own country, with an obligatory customer- client smile.
If PAF order, India would be very happy. We would install IRNSS receiver and other spy chips in to the boards. And if needed the flights will be remote controlled bricked.
Unfortunately Pakistan would never order F16s from India. :(
 
If the F16 is moved to india THERE would mass suicide in this place.

YOU PAKISTANIS swear by F16

this is like RUSSIA moving the SU30 entire line to Pakistan.

I hopoe it happens just to see the reaction

ON A SERIOUS NOTE

The USA is pushing india to buy lock stock and barrel AND this will happen if INDIA is happy with the technology transfer of AESA radars ENGINE technology and weapons.

THIS SHOWS THE ENORMOUS RESPECT TRUST FAITH THAT USA has ON INDIA

nobody can hide from that

AND TO GET 120 F16/70 working alongside 300 su30mki /rafale NO BODY I mean nobody is getting through that I don't care how many chinease spaceships you order
 
If PAF order, India would be very happy. We would install IRNSS receiver and other spy chips in to the boards. And if needed the flights will be remote controlled bricked.
Unfortunately Pakistan would never order F16s from India. :(

If the F16 is moved to india THERE would mass suicide in this place.

YOU PAKISTANIS swear by F16

this is like RUSSIA moving the SU30 entire line to Pakistan.

I hopoe it happens just to see the reaction

ON A SERIOUS NOTE

The USA is pushing india to buy lock stock and barrel AND this will happen if INDIA is happy with the technology transfer of AESA radars ENGINE technology and weapons.

THIS SHOWS THE ENORMOUS RESPECT TRUST FAITH THAT USA has ON INDIA

nobody can hide from that

AND TO GET 120 F16/70 working alongside 300 su30mki /rafale NO BODY I mean nobody is getting through that I don't care how many chinease spaceships you order

dont count eggs before they hatch .... meanwhile Pak has Turkey


https://www.tai.com.tr/en



modernizasyonu-tamamlanan-f-16-ucaklari-pakis-6441474_o.jpg

TAI also upgraded our fleet.. to MLU standard.


Even if somehow india choses to produce F-16s it wouldnt be allowed to export them without US Permission ... not even to indian airforce.
 
Last edited:
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I can live with that

upload_2017-1-11_19-17-35.png


AND 36 TO 72 of these

th


AND 272 of these beasts

AS I SAID YOU ARE NOT GETTING PAST THIS TYPE OF FIRE POWER
 
Well ,even if it happen its a long process PAF can go for another platform in that period .
Let it be 5th gen - FC-31/TFX being a full partner in R&D and production. It'll be more than a match for F16s in its current form. Turkish folks, who also love F16 from the bottom of their hearts, have mentioned that TFX will keep the most beloved features of F16s in updated forms. As for the older F16s, they'll be updated with indigenous AESA/EW suits etc...
 
HAKIKATlpost: 9099448 said:
Let it be 5th gen - FC-31/TFX being a full partner in R&D and production. It'll be more than a match for F16s in its current form. Turkish folks, who also love F16 from the bottom of their hearts, have mentioned that TFX will keep the most beloved features of F16s in updated forms. As for the older F16s, they'll be updated with indigenous AESA/EW suits etc...

Exactly .. A 5th gen fighter is need of the hour , a joint production(similar to jft) with China or even Turkey would be a better option .
 
dont count eggs before they hatch .... meanwhile Pak has Turkey


https://www.tai.com.tr/en



View attachment 367708
TAI also upgraded our fleet.. to MLU standard.


Even if somehow india choses to produce F-16s it wouldnt be allowed to export them without US Permission ... not even to indian airforce.

Some Indian members of this forum really think Pakistan will be left out in the cold regarding its F-16s if production is shifted to India. Like you said, Pakistan's F-16s connection goes through Turkey and not India. So no worries there.

Exactly .. A 5th gen fighter is need of the hour , a joint production(similar to jft) with China or even Turkey would be a better option .

If you want to avoid entanglements with Western suppliers, then avoid Turkey. Better to go with China and Pakistan will not have to worry about sanctions.
 
India does not have even the nut bolt technology of F16..India at best will become assemble of F16 that is if at all....its air-force decides to induct it...it will take them twenty years to make a decision and by that time F16 will be obsolete..
 
If the F16 is moved to india THERE would mass suicide in this place.

YOU PAKISTANIS swear by F16

this is like RUSSIA moving the SU30 entire line to Pakistan.

I hopoe it happens just to see the reaction

ON A SERIOUS NOTE

The USA is pushing india to buy lock stock and barrel AND this will happen if INDIA is happy with the technology transfer of AESA radars ENGINE technology and weapons.

THIS SHOWS THE ENORMOUS RESPECT TRUST FAITH THAT USA has ON INDIA

nobody can hide from that

AND TO GET 120 F16/70 working alongside 300 su30mki /rafale NO BODY I mean nobody is getting through that I don't care how many chinease spaceships you order

I doubt you get your hands on US AESA Radar technologies, and especially source codes.
Why would US engine manufacturers transfer their technology to India?
The US will sell the engine regardless which plane is selected for a F-16/Gripen E contract.
Maybe the US will let India assemble engines.
 
People forget, this isnt just the bird, but a whole sophisticated aerospace assembly/testing line under one of India's big private companies. And a HAL competitor, this alone will have positive implications for future Indian aerospace programs.


Boeing with the F18 have shown off, "path to AMCA", gig. SAAB and LM should do similar.

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