Pentagon to offer F-35 to India in upcoming tech transfer talks

[dray]

Pentagon to offer F-35 to India in upcoming tech transfer talks
Saturday, July 23, 2016
By: Financial Express

Accompanied by a high-level official delegation and representatives of several US defence companies, under secretary of defence for acquisition, technology and logistics Frank Kendall will arrive here next week. Topping his agenda would be the review of existing transfers and identifying new high-end technologies to strengthen New Delhi’s military capabilities. Kendall, a top Pentagon official, will reach Delhi on July 27 for the joint technology group meeting with India’s defence secretary G Mohan Kumar. He is also the US’ point person for the bilateral Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

Highly-placed sources told FE that the heads of several defence majors including General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Honeywell and Raytheon are accompanying him and they will interact with the Indian defence industry captains at a breakfast meeting on July 27. In a joint statement at the end of PM Modi’s recent visit, the US welcomed India’s ratification of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage earlier this year and the significant steps taken by Nuclear Power Corporation of India and Westinghouse towards finalising contractual negotiations by June 2017 on a deal to build six AP1000 reactors in India by 2030. The joint statement stated, “Once completed, this project will fulfill the promise of the US-India civil nuclear agreement, will create jobs in both the United States and India, and will advance our shared clean energy objectives”.

US company General Atomics, which is in talks with the Indian Navy for unmanned aerospace systems, is also a world leader in radiation monitoring systems for nuclear power plants at over 120 sites globally. General Atomics is eyeing huge opportunities in India along with Westinghouse and other nuclear reactor makers. Vivek Lall, global chief executive at General Atomics, will also be interacting with the Indian industry captains. Incidentally, American aerospace majors Lockheed Martin and Boeing have been offering shifting of whole production facilities to India for the F-16 and F-18 ‘Hornets’. “Both companies have made two rounds of presentations to the ministry of defence. Lockheed Martin has been told by the authorities that India is not keen on F-16s and Boeing, which through its tie up with Tata Aerospace, is already making components in India that are used on board its fighter jets,” said sources.

However, after getting clearances from the Obama administration on what information can be provided to India by the two aerospace companies, Lockheed Martin is expected to offer F-35 for the Indian Air Force and Boeing might offer making more parts that could be fitted on board the F-18s.

http://www.defencenews.in/article/P...to-India-in-upcoming-tech-transfer-talks-6936

 

[anant_s]

Hope they can find a way to get additional C17s for IAF as well.

 

[Mustang06]

What about UAV's?

 

[Nilgiri]

Hope they can find a way to get additional C17s for IAF as well.

I wonder what importing some of the production line to India and restarting it will cost under MII. Lots of countries I feel are still interested in C-17 and it doesn't look like the US is in a big rush to sell some of what it already has in service in any appreciable number.

 

[Killswitch]

The F35 has been quite the disaster in terms of time and cost over runs. It better be a very capable aircraft or it will be a TOTAL disaster.

 

[dadeechi]

The problem with F-35s is that India could get them only after 2025 due to the huge open orders that needed to be fulfilled.

F-35 is more of a hedge against the FGFA failure.

Only RAFALEs and F-16s would be inducted into IAF prior to 2020.

 

[John Reese]

The problem with F-35s is that India could get them only after 2025 due to the huge open orders that needed to be fulfilled.

F-35 is more of a hedge against the FGFA failure.

Only RAFALEs and F-16s would be inducted into IAF prior to 2020.

f-16 Not coming Unless DM MP Changes

 

[dadeechi]

f-16 Not coming Unless DM MP Changes

I would say F-16s are coming unless BJP looses power in 2019 to congress.

 

[John Reese]

I would say F-16s are coming unless BJP looses power in 2019 to congress.

No it's not parrikar is opposed to F-16

My sources in mod confirm it

 

[kaykay]

The problem with F-35s is that India could get them only after 2025 due to the huge open orders that needed to be fulfilled.

F-35 is more of a hedge against the FGFA failure.

Only RAFALEs and F-16s would be inducted into IAF prior to 2020.

No F-16. India is only discussing with Saab and Boeing.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Brace for a twist

Russia has offered Su35 in Innoprom 2016 as it shares commonality with Su30 MKI Super upgrade. Since first batch of Super MKI is 80 jets identification and step by step up gradation, Russia feels the Su35 in a similar fleet number will only help India enhance its squadron numbers and maintain its security apparatus. India has not reacted to this at all.

On top DM MP backup plan is PAKFA stage 1 jets between 65-100 (but not more than 100) directly from Russia in the timeline 2021-26 before FGFA is available from HAL line.

So he can afford to discuss with LM and Saab. Boeing has gone quiet for last 45+ days and will remain quiet bcz of its inability to get Senate approval for ASH version transfer of TOT. Its strategy of first asking for 100% Boeing subsidiary to have production in India to 74% Boeing 26% TASL with non critical parts being made by TASL did not cut ice with DM MP. In fact last offer was not even written but verbal where they wished to supply 90 jets via FMS route and offset discharging thru TASL like Apache/Chinook deal with no tech transfer..

SAAB deal updates already there in teh sticky as well as in a separate thread...

So among LM, Saab and Boeing its LM which is in so called pole position but not for F16s. With F16s DM MP wont agree so much..

Its basically full metallurgy and know how/ Technology transfer with full independence of Ge414 and no binding of usage/sanctions etc on USA planes that will get USA planes a deal with India. Since this is very opaque and in terms of Boeing assessment not feasible with present regime, they have gone quiet and awaiting clarity from the new Prez that will roll in USA in some months.

 

[Hellfire]

The likelihood remains max of F-18s. I continue to differ with @dadeechi on this. Also with @Abingdonboy over his Rafale. The latter deal is as good as dead IMO.

As for Su-35, not aware of it, the same is news to me as India is not keen (read Indian airforce) for Russian origin aircraft as increasingly the perspective planning has focussed on China while relegating Pakistan to a back burner.The commonality with what our adversaries will be having (by any stretch of imagination one would be hard pressed to call majority of Chinese aircrafts anything but clones) is giving the planners here some anxiety. But yes Super Sukhoi is something that is on the cards. Lets wait and watch ... till then . This drama is turning into a giant charade as the IAF approaches depletion.

I don't recall but someone had earlier mentioned India simply ramping up purchase of Su-30 MKI as interim measures upgraded to Super Sukhoi - that is increasingly the likelihood.

Hope they can find a way to get additional C17s for IAF as well.

Something is on the cards .. we have options which are being exercised but as of today, our airlift capacity is covered, the requirement of significant numbers of C17s is not felt as per the appreciation of the IAF as also IHQ of MOD. We can airlift a division in one go easily with the air fixed wing assets under strategic lift.

The rotor wings are not being considered. However, one air force exercise did demonstrate airlift of 01 x infantry brigade with presently held assets

 

[rockstarIN]

So here is the picture for 90 jets under MII

LM - F-16 & F-18 or F-35s
Saab - Gripen E
Russia - Su-35
France - more Rafis

DM MP - early Pak FAs or more MKIs(filling the gap)

Is there any possible fighters left in the world? why note add Japanese tech demonstrator

 

[Hellfire]

So here is the picture for 90 jets under MII

LM - F-16 & F-18 or F-35s
Saab - Gripen E
Russia - Su-35
France - more Rafis

DM MP - early Pak FAs or more MKIs(filling the gap)

Is there any possible fighters left in the world? why note add Japanese tech demonstrator

U-2 is likely in ....

Just left to buy J-10s and J-17s and J-20s. Can ask Pakistanis for JF-17s

 

[rockstarIN]

U-2 is likely in ....

Just left to buy J-10s and J-17s and J-20s. Can ask Pakistanis for JF-17s

I forgot to add LSA ...!