US-India Defense Ties

India, US to Sign Deal on Purchase of 145 Howitzers Within Three Weeks

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/military/201611171047531201-india-us-m-777-howitzers/

Note the 'will' not 'may' in the announcement.

There is nothing voluntary in this. It is an order from the boss. India will kowtow to the US, implemented via a technique known as an 'optimised' tender process so the sheeple don't notice, with rewards to those that mattered on their retirement. You know, $100k speeches etc.

The F-16 Block 70 will be produced in India under a partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Lockheed Martin said in a press release on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The F-16 Block 70, the newest version of the fighter jet, will be produced in India under a partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Lockheed Martin said in a press release on Monday.

"Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited signed a landmark agreement affirming the companies’ intent to join hands to produce the F-16 Block 70 in India," the release stated.

The release noted this "unprecedented" partnership will allow India to produce, operate and export the F-16 Block 70.

The agreement builds on a previous agreement between Lockheed Martin and TASL, which successfully build airframe components for the C-130J airlifter and the S-92 helicopter, the release added.

https://sputniknews.com/asia/201706191054769297-us-india-lockheed-f16/

Indian air force will be like Saudi Arabia's, if not worst. Indians can't come up with a decision ever. And when they do, it is a shit one. Like this F-16 deal would be. I will laugh my ass off if Pakistan F-16s ever end up fighting Indian F-16's.

miketheterrible wrote:Indian air force will be like Saudi Arabia's, if not worst. Indians can't come up with a decision ever. And when they do, it is a shit one. Like this F-16 deal would be. I will laugh my ass off if Pakistan F-16s ever end up fighting Indian F-16's.

First 100 US assembled, second 100 knock down kits from US local assemble, who knows when local production? Can't see US Gov exporting key defence technology away from US MIC.

And the US has the balls to deny us the ability to sell A-4 Skyhawks because the upgrades we applied to them contain technology used in the F-16...

They are just assholes.

GarryB wrote:And the US has the balls to deny us the ability to sell A-4 Skyhawks because the upgrades we applied to them contain technology used in the F-16...

They are just assholes.

Just them showing who is the master and who the vassal. Again.

F-16 technology transfer? Not on your life.



US has denied transfer of critical technology and production of F-16 fighter jets under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

To a question on whether the US has agreed for transfer of sophisticated technology and production of F-16 jets under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State for Defense said “no”. Bhamre was answering the question in the parliament Tuesday.

The critical technologies in question are integrated systems for active electronically scanned array radar, electro-optical targeting pod, infrared search and track and radio frequency jammer. It may be recalled the US had refused to part with these technologies for the South Korean K-FX aircraft, a derivative of the F-16 made by Korean Aerospace Industries in association with Lockheed Martin. South Korea is building its own fighter plane closely modelled along the F-16 with a number of crucial inputs coming from Lockheed Martin.

These technologies form an important component of the F-16V fighter jet, the latest evolution of the world’s most successful war plane that has been offered to New Delhi. India has sought guarantee from US for technology transfer in case any US based company bids for fighter jet program under the ‘Make in India’ initiative last month.

It was certain by March this year that the production line would not be set up in India. Lockheed Martin started shifting production of its F-16 fighter jets to Greenville from its existing Fort Worth, Texas facility effectively burying its plans to move the production line to India.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/20116/US_Denies_Transfer_of_Critical_Technology_and_F_16_Fighter_Production_in_India#.WYt3xFGQxaR

Well that proves it was just BS...

Amusing the supporters of Indian F-16s thought MiG-29s were too obsolete for India to adopt when F-16s are even older and the US will pretty much keep anything useful about them secret from you anyway.

India will acquire six more helicopters AH-64E Apache

According to Indian media, the Indian Defense Council (DAC), headed by Defense Minister Arun Jetley, at its meeting on August 17, 2017 approved the purchase of six American combat helicopters Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian for Indian army aviation. This is allocated 41.68 billion rupees (about 651 million dollars).



http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2794547.html

India's decision to go ahead with a Rs. 40,000 crore-deal with Russia for S-400 batteries could come in the way of acquiring US-built Predator drones.



https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/s-400-missile-deal-us-may-block-sale-of-predator-drones-as-india-is-buying-arms-from-russia-1858958

Pinto wrote:India's decision to go ahead with a Rs. 40,000 crore-deal with Russia for S-400 batteries could come in the way of acquiring US-built Predator drones.



https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/s-400-missile-deal-us-may-block-sale-of-predator-drones-as-india-is-buying-arms-from-russia-1858958

But that's not part of the Trump MAGA plan by increasing US manufacturing.

Mind you neither is killing a $20B Boeing purchase by Iran or the Turkish F-35 deal as proposed by Congress.

JohninMK wrote:

Pinto wrote:India's decision to go ahead with a Rs. 40,000 crore-deal with Russia for S-400 batteries could come in the way of acquiring US-built Predator drones.



https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/s-400-missile-deal-us-may-block-sale-of-predator-drones-as-india-is-buying-arms-from-russia-1858958

But that's not part of the Trump MAGA plan by increasing US manufacturing.

Mind you neither is killing a $20B Boeing purchase by Iran or the Turkish F-35 deal as proposed by Congress.

as of now US decisions are disaster for world under current regime so you cant be sure what is in store next

The delivery of six more AN-64E helicopters to India has been authorized



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3238081.html

The first helicopters AN-64E Apache and CH-47F(I) Chinook for India

July 27, 2018, Boeing Corporation reported that the first flights of the first AN-64E helicopters Apache Guardian and CH-47F (I) Chinook, built for India, were made. The first flight of the head-built AN-64E helicopter for India took place on July 16, 2018, and the first flight of the head-built CH-47F (I) helicopter for India - July 23. Shipments of both types of Boeing helicopters to India will begin in 2019.



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3286720.html

Lockheed to build F-16 wings in India with Tata
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/65671234.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

I don't see how they won't get F-16s for their AF if they'll be building wings for them! Perhaps 100s will be ordered over next 10-15 years.

“The F-16 Block 70 is ideally suited to meet the Indian Air Force’s single-engine fighter needs and this unmatched U.S.-Indian industry partnership directly supports India’s initiative to develop private aerospace and defense manufacturing capacity in India,” a Lockheed Martin statement from June 2017 reads. https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/lockheed-martin-to-build-f-16-wings-in-india/

India vehemently said no to F-16's. This is Lockheed to force their way in.

Making the wings in India? Even Russia allows much more of the Su-30MKI made in India.the lobbying is really strong here.

But moving F-16 wing production will happen regardless of who wins the coveted fighter contracts. India could also be in the market for drones, cargo aircraft and additional P-8 maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing. https://www.investors.com/news/india-defense-deals-f16-s400-mattis-pompeo-russia-iran-sanctions/

https://topwar.ru/146583-daleko-iduschie-plany-amerikanskie-f-16-poluchat-indijskie-krylja.html

This Block 70 fighter is more advanced than Pakistani F-16C/Ds & could be well suited for India. https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/f-16/f-16-block-70.html

Israel, Japan (F-2) , UAE, soon Bahrain, & Taiwan operate dozens of F-16s & could participate in exercises with India if need be.
https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/bahraini-airforce-16-f-16-block-70-jets/

India may also get some F-16s for adversary training, imitating Pakistani F-16s & PRC's J-10s:
https://topwar.ru/109572-zainteresuet-li-vvs-indii-f-16-block-70-lockheed-martin-snova-vklinivaetsya-v-indiyskiy-rynok-vooruzheniya.html

It runs counter to India's current Tejas program. Which in itself they already heavily funded.

F-16 is old. Block whatever, doesn't matter. In the end, US will phase them out and they are trying to find someone stupid enough to pick it up to earn some extra shekals.

Tejas or not, they still opened a tender for a light/single engine fighter.
If that project was so successful, it wouldn't have happened.

..the much-hyped indigenous Tejas LCA as a “medium technology” fighter, and said given the demands on the IAF the home-built bird “alone just will not do”. https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/tejas-trivialised-1502684392.htm

You realize how many tenders India has gone through now?

Modi won't last either. So be prepared for more humor.

The Rafale is out, but will others offer complete local production?
The Russian MiG-35 is 2 engine i.e. will need more fuel, & SAAB JAS-39 may be more expensive & less capable than the F-16 Block 70.

Wings aren't full production.

Even Indians are laughing at this.

LM offered exclusive production: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40344566

Later they may produce the whole plane or most of it. Japan modified it to F-2 & produced 'a total of 94 airframes' for JADF. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_F-2

Japan modified it to F-2 & produced 'a total of 94 airframes ' for herself

Which ended up making them very very expensive for what they were...

The whole point of a single engined fighter is to keep costs down... so making F-16s is not going to be a great solution for India... especially if they buy S-400s which would mean they might lose the right to make F-16s or anything else for that matter...

I am sure if India wants to make F16s then they wont mind increased sales of Russian gear to Pakistan...

Tsavo Lion wrote:LM offered exclusive production: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-40344566

Later they may produce the whole plane or most of it. Japan modified it to F-2 & produced 'a total of 94 airframes' for JADF. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_F-2

That isn't even full tot either. They won't get full transfers of radar, software and other sensitive stuff either

And as Garry said, will open can of worms for India too in long run with their relations with Russia, which is already hurting.