US high-tech arms to India stumble on safeguards

[Marxist]

India marked shift towards American weaponry is, paradoxically, leading towards a flash point between New Delhi and Washington. Over the next three months, key American military platforms — including the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, the C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft and the M777 ultralight howitzer (ULH) — come to India for user trials. But New Delhi’s reluctance to sign two technology safeguard agreements demanded by the US could lead to India paying top dollar for American equipment that is divested of the cutting-edge electronics, which makes it special.

With neither side giving ground, negotiations have stalled. Before meeting last week in Washington, the US-India Defence Procurement and Production Group (DPPG) — which coordinates equipment transfers between the US and India — quietly removed from its agenda a long-running discussion on the two contentious safeguards: The Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMoA); and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA).

Also threatened by this continuing stand-off is the transfer to India of crucial avionics, satellite navigation aids, and secure communications equipment that power two advanced American platforms that India has already bought: The P8I Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft (MMA); and the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.

US law mandates that certain sensitive American electronics can only be transferred abroad after the recipient country signs the CISMoA and/or the BECA. But, New Delhi treats all defence agreements with the US as political hot potatoes. Last year, India reluctantly signed up for an End-User Monitoring (EUM) Agreement with the US after extended negotiations that eventually kept American inspectors away from Indian military bases. Simultaneously, New Delhi flatly rejected a US proposal for a Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) that would have formally allowed US forces ready access to Indian logistics. The EUM agreement and the LSA faced vocal domestic opposition, notably from the Left.

Manohar Thyagaraj, a security analyst who studies the US-India strategic relationship, explains: “Foundation agreements such as CISMoA and BECA are required by the US law for providing another country with the most advanced electronics on US weapons platforms. These agreements are common for all countries that receive US high technology and are not unique to India.”

The CISMoA, signed between the US and Korea in October 2008, aims “to promote tactical systems interoperability” between the two armed forces by allowing the US Department of Defense to provide “Communications Security (COMSEC) Equipment” to protect sensitive data during communications. The Indian Ministry of Defence is apprehensive about permitting the US to fit COMSEC equipment into the platforms that India buys.

If the stand-off over the CISMoA continues, India’s eight P8I Poseidon aircraft, which cost $2.1 billion, will be delivered with a down-rated avionics suite, not the high-end electronics that make the P8I a leader in its class.

Talking to Business Standard, Egan Greenstein, senior manager for business development, Boeing Defence, explained: “The signing of the CISMoA would be essential for a high-tech system like the P8I. It is absolutely packed with sensitive technologies. The US wants to share these technologies with India, but will make sure that they are suitably protected by the CISMoA.”

The growing distance between New Delhi and Washington on the CISMoA is causing frustration on both sides. A US official complains: “Both sides are just kicking the can down the road, hoping that someone, sometime will see the light and actually do something real about it.”

American vexation was officially conveyed during the visit of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates to Delhi in January, when he urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister AK Antony to sign the CISMoA and the LSA.

Addressing the press after his meetings in New Delhi, a chagrined Robert Gates pointed out: “These agreements have been laying around for quite a while… this is not some new requirement that has just emerged. [These agreements] are preponderantly in India’s benefit, because they give high-tech systems additional high-tech capabilities… are enablers, if you will, to the very highest quality equipment in the Indian armed forces.”

Since the US Defence Secretary’s visit, Washington has written back, using concrete examples — including the P8I and the C-130J aircraft — to illustrate to New Delhi what capabilities it will pass up by refusing to sign the CISMoA and BECA.

The next discussion on these safeguard agreements is likely during the inaugural US-India Strategic Dialogue from June 1 to 4, when India’s External Affairs Minister SM Krishna meets US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington.

US high-tech arms to India stumble on safeguards

 

[ramu]

If India can get the technology without signing this intellectual property land mines, then it will be good. Any deal that jinxes the future development and autonomy of Indian defense industry is a no no.

 

[Marxist]

****deleted****

 

[Marxist]

Army chief warns against govt-to-govt deals with US

NEW DELHI: For the first time since India began big-ticket defence purchases from the US through government-to-government route, a senior member of the security establishment has red-flagged them, calling attention to the serious pitfalls of it.

In an unusual reflection of Army's frustration with its past FMS (foreign military sales) purchases from the US, Army chief General V K Singh has written to defence minister A K Antony, cautioning the government about the troubles with FMS.

Over the past few years, the Indian defence establishment has been using the FMS programme of the US government to carry out major defence acquisitions.

In these non-tender purchases, the US government procures the equipment on behalf of the Indian government from its military companies, and takes a commission for the services rendered through Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

The purchase of AN/TPQ-37 firefinder weapon-locating radars for the Army in 2002 was the first major deal that India did with the US under FMS in several decades. Ever since, India has been buying several major defence systems regularly, and the total contract value of US systems bought under the FMS deal runs into several billion dollars.

The Army chief's letter of caution comes at a time when the two sides are in the final stages of finalizing two major FMS purchases — one for the Army and the other for the IAF. The Army is proposing to buy 145 ultra light howitzers worth about $647 million, mostly for deployment along the China border, while the IAF is planning to buy 10 C-17 transport aircraft at a cost of over $2.2 billion.

Singed by the troubles with past FMS contracts, the Army top brass is now discussing the possibility of hiring corporate lawyers well versed in international negotiations and contracts to come on board for scrutinizing the upcoming contract for howitzers, authoritative sources said. These lawyers would ensure that the past troubles are kept away, source said.

Gen Singh is believed to have pointed out to Antony Army's trouble with maintenance of a dozen weapon-locating radars bought from the US firm Raytheon. At times, up to two-thirds of the radars have been in want of maintenance, Army sources said.

Gen Singh's letter to Antony is an unusual step, and was "forced by the troubles we have with maintenance of the radar systems", an Army source said.

India has been using the non-tender, FMS route to buy big-ticket defence items from the US since 2002, when the radars became the first items to be bought under the scheme in recent memory. Over the past eight years, the military has carried out a host of acquisitions through the route. Among them were the $2.21 billion purchase of eight Boeing P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft, $962 million deal for six C-130J Hercules transport aircraft for IAF and $88 million for USS Trenton and accompanying helicopters for the Navy.

The IAF is currently in the final stages of negotiations for purchase of $2.2 billion worth 10 C-17 aircraft and the Army is finalizing the purchase of howitzers.

Army chief warns against govt-to-govt deals with US - India - The Times of India

 

[CONNAN]

all i can say is stick with our ruskee brothers

 

[KEETARP]

ITAR and Arm's safeguard regulations are very precise and specific in US , relaxation in those sets is not possible and Enforcement penalty have been paid by Motorola and Northrop Grumman for breaching them.
Boeing even had to do cleansing act on Dreamliner 787 bcoz it had several several tech from B2- system , though unwillingly but to make it free of clauses it was required.

Indian MoD should have realized it before giving navy a green signal to go ahead with Purchase . They should have foreseen it when Australia's Sikorsky deal and Uk's F35 had problems with source codes and avionics .

If the stand-off over the CISMoA continues, India’s eight P8I Poseidon aircraft, which cost $2.1 billion, will be delivered with a down-rated avionics suite, not the high-end electronics that make the P8I a leader in its class.

If that happens , Navy should be the last entity to be blamed if any Restrictions are hindering the export of sensitive technology
Its upto Indian gov to either sign CISMoA or provide alternative to such sensitive tech and make these weapons ITAR free which is impossible.
Manufacturer's if required can make a ITAR free equipment but that would be stupidity on gov part to accept a downgraded equipment.
It would be impossible for India to get thru without signing , considering even UK has only marginal Exemptions and Treaties in place . Even their allies allow Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) bcoz they dont have issues like India has with China , where issue of US logistics agreement could affect bilateral relations severely . Russian concerns are a different platform separately

The Indian Ministry of Defence is apprehensive about permitting the US to fit COMSEC equipment into the platforms that India buys.

What does this mean ??? , another Trojan theory .
India Gov should have known before the Encrypted signal and communications comes as a part of cutting edge tech.

Gen Singh is believed to have pointed out to Antony Army's trouble with maintenance of a dozen weapon-locating radars bought from the US firm Raytheon. At times, up to two-thirds of the radars have been in want of maintenance, Army sources said.

If the problem is of inferior quality they should take up matter to highest level . If its related to restriction on spares due to arm's regulations , army and gov should have anticipated it earlier

Singed by the troubles with past FMS contracts, the Army top brass is now discussing the possibility of hiring corporate lawyers well versed in international negotiations and contracts to come on board for scrutinizing the upcoming contract for howitzers, authoritative sources said. These lawyers would ensure that the past troubles are kept away, source said

Should have done earlier , and everybody knew from Day1 these problems would come up .
Its just the lack of far-sight on behalf of Gov that issues like Gorshkov , Scorpene , Hawk trainers , and now these US equipments are exploiting us badly.

 

[Marxist]

Indian Air Force (IAF) Pending Order For 10 Boeing C-17s Not at Risk


The drumbeat of anti-C-17 commentary in US, European, Indian, Pakistani and other global news mediums; a strike at Boeing Long Beach by union workers and the observably large leap in logic suggesting the Globemaster III will be terminated as a result, appear to be part of a well coordinated effort -- again -- to render as self-fulfilling prophecy SECDEF Gates' unfounded insistence on ending production of the world's most successful strategic/tactical airlifter.

While GHH feels the bulk of reportage in certain media outlets commendably takes on a aura of objectivity regarding IAF plans to acquire C-17, that aura, they contend, collapses with pointed and all-caps references in some to the US President and SECDEF's stated desire to kill it; i.e., "Everyone agrees, except Obama and Gates. Maybe they know something others are not telling us... Why is India buying the C-17 when Barack Obama and Robert Gates want to junk it, asks Shantanu Guha Ray?"


PR-USA.net - Indian Air Force (IAF) Pending Order For 10 Boeing C-17s Not at Risk as Suggested; US DoD Actions

its a long press release am just posting the content which is related to topic,rest u can read from the link