Posted on 04/28/2011 9:45:22 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
India has selected Europe over the US as its preferred provider of next generation fighter planes in a bitterly-fought contest.
The Indian government has shortlisted the Eurofighter Typhoon, for which UK defence contractor BAE Systems is a consortium member, and the French Rafale fighter for the 126 combat aircraft order.
The decision means that US defence contractors Boeing and Lockheed are now cut out of the deal, which could be worth $11bn (£6.7bn).
Should the Eurofighter be selected, the deal could prove highly lucrative for a number of UK defence companies other than BAE. Ultra Electronics, Meggitt and Cobham all manufacture parts for the Typhoon fighter, and would receive a najor profits boost from the additional orders.
The decision to cut the US out will come as a blow after a concerted campaign by US officials. Timothy Roemer, the US ambassador to Delhi, resigned yesterday, citing personal reasons after accomplishing "all of the strategic objectives set forth two years ago" on taking the job.
The contract will be one of the world's largest in recent years and will cement a strategic partnership between India and Europe.
Other contractors bidding were Sweden's Saab Gripen and Russia's MiG-35
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
“Why would any nation buy from American overpriced jets when they clearly try to blackmail in domestic issues with jet fighter spare parts and weapons systems. ‘We don’t deliver unless you agree’.”
I’m afraid the Telegraph poster was right. Once you buy American we have an eternal threat to withold spare parts and accessories if you do something we don’t like.
The same can be said of any other supplier. France was Israel’s main ally until 1967 but then abruptly embargoed supply of weaponry. The Russians are unlikely to be any different. The only difference here being that non-American suppliers have fewer reasons to terminate a relationship.
The MMRCA contact in it’s political angle sought to cultivate influence with European nations which have been left out in a way, compared to the US. People forget that Boeing, Lockheed Martin and GE among others have won contracts worth almost 10 billion USD in total from the Indian military in the past five years.
Finally, the imperative to consider technical factors cannot be understated despite what the cynics say. That the Eurofighter and Rafale were better aircraft by performance was a known fact and would come in to play as the Chicoms and their pals in Islamabad modernise their militaries. These aircraft would serve at least 30 years. Besides taking a decision based on political considerations alone would have led to allegations of a sell-out and corruption, something no government in India could withstand.
Yes, but the same is true of any foreign supplier.
Not if they’re just interested in the munnee.
The whole euro crowd in general tends not to care about highfalutin’ morality issues the way we tend to.
It comes equiped with the new Euromissiles. They only work half the time, and can never be fired.
What about when there’s more money to be made from your enemies? How many countries sell weapons to Taiwan these days?
India disses and backstabs the US at BRICS meetings. I am not surprised.They sided with the soviets in the cold war and they have a ton of muslims in their population. India enjoy your euro planes. If china takes more of your territory and kicks your ass again go ask them for help. The US is tired of the world and its double standards against us.
And despite that the Pakis still hate you. Maybe more money would help.
More money wont help the Pakis have thrown their lot in with China and they both hate India. Stupid move on Indias part but whatever the time is coming when these certain countries will have to fend for themselves and it wont be pretty.
Let’s not forget that this is also due to Obambi’s incompetence and consistent insults of India. If Bush had been around this wouldn’t have happened.
They picked the eurofighter not because it is a good airplane. Maby india needs more foreign aid.
The Eurofighter is arguably the most expensive of the six planes and among the bidders only the US provides military to aid to major countries (Pakistan/Israel/Egypt).
A lot of folks don’t get that the european offerings are simply newer better planes. They were designed a decade or two later taking the lessons learned from the other planes into account. Admitting that is not an insult to US engineering and it is not claiming europeans make better planes. It is simple facts to admit that a reved up 30+ year old design might fall slightly short of a 15 year old design.
Good luck.......
Naah, the Europeans just paid bigger bribes.
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