F-35 has been offered to India by USA. Both Pakistan and China know it and we have the solution for this baby. Here read the report.
This comes after the Pentegon's statements yesterday that Animesh picked
found on the failed sale of F-16's and F-18's to the Indian military and
is the first instance I can remember of the US offering the F-35. Ties in
with our piece on the US seeking to strengthen it's military ties w/
Japan, SE Asia and India that Aaron has in edit. - CR
US willing to discuss F-35 fighter jets with India
2011-11-03 06:36 AM
The United States has taken a significant first step toward offering F-35
fighter jet aircraft to India in a sign of its desire to deepen defense
cooperation.
Robert Scher, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and
Southeast Asia, said Wednesday the U.S. thinks India's military could use
a jet like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which the U.S. is developing
with a consortium of allies.
"What's clear is that the F-35 is something that we would be more than
willing to talk to the government of India about," should they express an
interest, he said.
Scher was speaking at a Pentagon news conference after the release of a
Defense Department annual report to Congress on U.S.-India security
cooperation.
The report, which outlined expanding military exchanges between the
world's two largest democracies, said the U.S. is committed to a broad
trade defense relationship "that enables transfers of some of our most
advanced technologies."
The offer to discuss the F-35 comes after Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin
missed out to European competitors in April bidding for a $11 billion deal
to supply India with 126 fighter jets. The U.S. defense firms were
offering F-16s and F-18s.
President Barack Obama had lobbied in person for that deal when he visited
Indian last November, and his administration described the knock-back as a
missed opportunity to deepen defense ties.
Analysts said completing any potential sale of F-35s is still a long way
off, but the offer in principle to supply the more sophisticated jets
reflects Washington's commitment to India's growth as a global power and
emergence as a strategic partner for the United States.
Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman and Republican Sen. John Cornyn said
Wednesday's report was "an encouraging sign that the administration is
committed to strengthening our relationship with India."
The F-35 is the Pentagon's biggest weapons procurement program, and has
been undertaken with support from allies including Britain, Australia,
Canada, Israel and several European nations. It has been plagued with
delays and cost overruns.
Ashley Tellis, a defense expert at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace think tank, said it was unlikely India would consider
the F-35, which is not expected to be in the U.S. Air Force before 2016,
as a fresh candidate for the deal that U.S. firms missed out on in April.
But he said India will be looking to acquire a stealth fighter _ known as
the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft _ after the middle of the decade.
Although India wants to codevelop that plane, F-35s supplied by the U.S.
would be an attractive option, he said.
if wan't to live in a denial mode its your choice, i shows you a reliable
