The strategic co-operation between the India and the United States will get a boost in the impending visit of President Obama. However, defence sources say, some of the deals in this crucial area may not be finalised as the government is in consultation with the armed forces about the benefits and utility of these agreements.AIR correspondent reports, India has also expressed its concern over the latest two billion dollar military aid package for Pakistan. Last month the defence minister had raised the issue with US secretary of defence Robert Gates during his visit to Washington. A.K. Antony also emphasised that India suspected Pakistan was using US military aid to reinforce its conventional war-fighting capabilities against India.Though the government has indicated that the negotiations on the purchase of ten C-17 Globemaster-III heavy air lifters worth 4.4 billion US Dollars is in the final stage, the fate of other two mega deals is still to be decided. The announcement for a second deal – for up to 300 M-777 ultra light howitzers , is unlikely as army has not yet finished evaluating the guns .The Indian Air Force that had earlier contracted the C-130J Hercules from the US, is getting the medium-lift aircraft minus some of the equipment that the Pentagon says could have been made available if the agreements were signed.But topping the US’ priority in all these deals is the mega-competition to sell 126 (possibly 200) medium, multi-role combat aircraft that could cost as much as 12 billion US Dollars.Two US-origin aircraft, Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Super Viper (Fighting Falcon) are in the running. The other aircraft in the competition are the MiG 35 of Russia, Dassault’s Rafale of France and a European consortium’s Eurofighter Typhoon.
News On AIR | November 1, 2010 12:53 PM
New Delhi weighing all pros and cons before finalising defence deals with USA