US to replace Russia as India’s biggest arms supplier?

[CONNAN]

http://world.globaltimes.cn/asia-pacific/2010-07/550830.html

India,US to ink huge military deal: report
Source: Global Times [03:15 July 13 2010

US President Barack Obama's visit to New Delhi in November may secure $5 billion worth of arms sales to India, Russia's Vzglyad newspaper reported Monday.

The deal, if signed during Obama's visit, would make the US replace Russia as India's biggest arms supplier, the paper said, adding that the deal would also help India curb China's rise.

India's shortlist includes Patriot defense systems, Boeing mid-air refueling tankers and certain types of howitzers, and the total cost of the deal may exceed $10 billion, the paper added.

The report came a day after The Economic Times in New Delhi reported that talks are underway between Indian and US officials over a deal to sell 10 Boeing C-17 military transport aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The talks focus on the price and onboard equipment of the T-tailed C-17 Globemaster-III, which has passed validation trials and meets the requirements of the IAF, the newspaper said.

According to an official Boeing statement, the C-17 can carry a maximum payload of 74,797 kilo-grams for 2,400 nautical miles (4,444.8 kilometers) without refueling, and 45,495 kilograms for 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 kilometers) without refueling, the paper added.

Wang Mingzhi, a military strategist at the PLA Air Force Command College, told the Global Times that those reported military deals reflect Washington and New Delhi's needs in the region.

"To assist the Afghan war and the fight against the Pakistani Taliban, the US has been trying to improve its presence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean," Wang said. "Those arms sales will improve ties between Washington and New Delhi, and, intentionally or not, will have the effect of containing China's influence in the region."

"For example, once India gets the C-17 transport aircraft, the mobility of its forces stationed along the border with China will be improved. Mobility includes transportation, lifting, landing and deployment," he added.

 

[Archie]

Well i can see US being the biggest arms supplier to india this year , what i dont see is , that US is able to mentain this position in near future , or for that matter even the next year.
Even israel has managed to displace Russia as biggest arms supplier during some years , but it was not permanent , and as u must all be knowing , india trusts the israeli a lot more than the US .
Another thing is that if you look at the contracts being awarded this year , well out of the acquisition budget of 12 billion USD
Russia has recieved 2 fighter contracts valued at 4.8 Billion USD ( follow on orders for 29 mig29k and 42 su30mki)
US has recieved order for 5 Billion USD ( 10 C17 Globemaster and 145 Howitzers confirmed , 6 BOING Mid air refuellers , )
So i dont thing there is going to be much difference this year , even if US wins the mmrca contract VALUED AT 10 BILLION USD , there is also the P75I submarine contract Valued at 11 Billion USD , which Russia has a chance of getting since US does not have diesel electric submarines , not to mention the Pakfa Deal valued at 25 Billion USD Which Russia is garanteed and which also exceed the combine value of the mmrca and submarine contract.

And yeah there is no dealing regarding Patriot system as of now , what india wants is something like balistic missile defence system supported by Ageis Combat system for deployment on 4 , 7500 Ton Destroyers which will follow the Kolkata class 6800 ton destroyer