Boeing Eyes Sales to Indian Air Force

By RAJESH MAHAPATRA, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jul 22, 6:53 PM ET



NEW DELHI - U.S. aircraft maker Boeing has joined the race to supply fighter jets to the Indian Air Force, a senior company official said Friday, weeks after the United States and India signed a strategic defense pact.

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Responding to a request from the Indian government, Boeing Co. presented its latest multipurpose jet — the F/A-18 Super Hornet — to defense officials in India this week.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to provide India with a premier aircraft that will help guarantee the security of India and its people," said Chris Chadwick, Boeing vice president for F/A-18 programs.

The Indian Air Force has said it will buy 126 new jet fighters to modernize its fleet. U.S.-based Lockheed Martin Corp. and French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation are also in the race.

The Super Hornet is the U.S. Navy's newest strike fighter, a multi-role combat plane that is capable of both dogfights and carrying out bombing missions. Air forces of seven countries, including Australia and Canada, are using the Super Hornet.

Chadwick said this week's visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Washington had made the environment more favorable for U.S.-based defense contractors wanting to do business with India.

Price and other details have yet to be worked out, and an order could take up to a year to finalize. Boeing sold the planes to the U.S. Navy for $54 million each, but Chadwick said the price for India would depend on its requirements.

Boeing was also willing to transfer technology and co-produce the planes in India, Chadwick said, and in partnering defense production and space research.

"We have a lot of flexibility in terms of what we can offer to the Indian Air Force, subject to approval by the U.S. government," he said.

Shares of Chicago-based Boeing rose 49 cents to close at $66.20 Friday on the New York Stock Exchange

Hi,

India -US relations have Never been better .......... But it has not reached to the level that US can be trusted as a Reliable Arms Supplier as yet ........ Second thing is India is in Immidiate Need of these 126 Firhter Aircrafts and wants to get ToT ( Transfer of Tech.) for them ......... I don't know if US will approve Lockheed martin to transfer of Technology to Manufacture these Aircraft to India....

It's the First time American Compatations are Competing to get the Contract to Supply Aircraft to India ............ the Two US Companies Competation Lockheed Martin with it's F-16 Competation for the 126 Aircraft deal and Boieng Competation with MIG29 for the Indian Aircraft Carriers ....

According to the Latest Deal with Russia will Give India Admiral Gorbachev Aircraft Carrier renamed as INS Vikramaditya For almost Free but India has to pay for the's refulling and Upgrade and has to Buy 20 MIG29K to operate with it .......... So chances of any deal in near future is remote.

Right now only deals that i see coming through are the Patriot PAC-3 missile defense system which US Government Cleared recently.



Peace
-=SF_13=-

Why would Boeing sell to India? I thought they only sell to America.

Well being practically the only real, stable, sucessful democracy in SE asia we need them as allies.

Hi,

Originally Posted by FutureDevilDog

Why would Boeing sell to India? I thought they only sell to America.

For Money ...... ............ US Government has Cleared Lockheed Martin To Sell Patriot PAC-3 missile defense system and F-16 .............. and Boeing to Sell F/A-18 Super Hornet To India.............. It's not Up to the Companey To make Such Desicion Clearance has to Come from the Government so these Deals reflect Policy of the US Government.


US Government Clearing the Offeres Dosen't mean India Would Buy them ........ they have Put forth their Offers ......so have many other Weapon manufacturers ........... their Offers along with others are Currently being reviewed .

This is a Huge Policy Shift By Both America and India ........ In the Biggest Policy Shift India Invited Lockheed Martin to Bid for the 126 Fighter Aircraft it wants to buy along with The Dassault , Gripen and MIG which are also in the Competation....... Such Invitation would have been Unthinkable a few years back between the Long time Foes ............ Lockheed Martin Contacted the US Government for approval and which was Duely Given......... that was a Big policy Shift from the US side when many belived US will never Approve it...

But these Things are Just the beggning .......... Most of the US Companies will not the win the Current deals........... Like Lockheed martin has a Very remore chances to win this 126 Aircraft bid Due to it's Price and a few other Issues that might be resolved in future ........ same applies to Boeing . .......... It's a Start never-the-less.

Peace
-=SF_13-

Isn't it too expensive for India? u.s have to promote the Indian army in order to hold in play China. So u.s have to sale the super weapon to India.

So, were selling them F-16s and F/A 18s, which are soon to be outdated. Why are we selling them almost outdated aircraft?

Were selling arms to asian nations like crazy to keep China in check, Its only a matter of time until we sell Tawain a super carrier.

Hi,

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Isn't it too expensive for India? u.s have to promote the Indian army in order to hold in play China. So u.s have to sale the super weapon to India.

It's Business in the End ............. F-16 and F/A-18 Super Hornet are not Super weapons ............ Both F-16 is pathically Outdated and Too Much Over Priced .......... at the price of a F/A-18 India can almost get Two SU-30MKI or MIrage 2000 / 5 .

As i said Earlier LockHeed Marting and boeing are Bidding for Contracts for sale of weapons to IAF they are Not Alone in that they have to Compete with Mirage , Gripen , Mig and Sukoi ......... and Currently American Companies offers is not very lucrative ............. Mirage 2000 /5 and Mig 29 are the Front Runner in the 126 Aircraft deal............ and Coming to Boieng's F/A-18 Super Hornet which is Also competing with MIG29K and Mig is leading in that Contract ....... Both Lockheed martin F-16 and F/A-18 are almost sure not to win their respective Contracts ............You Guys are Presuming that India Will Buy them ..

Originally Posted by Rabs

Were selling arms to asian nations like crazy to keep China in check, Its only a matter of time until we sell Tawain a super carrier.

US Sells most of it's weapons to Middle Eastern Countries ....... In south east Asia Pakistan is the leading recipient of US Arms ......... that's why It's Unlikely India will Go for US weapons just yet.

Pakistan is a Close Ally of China and Middle eastern Countries doesn't have anything against China ............and India doesn't Buy weapons form USA as yet .


Peace
-=SF_13=-

Selling a carrier tp taiwan? All thats gonna do is piss off china more than they are now.