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US pitches F-16s, F-18s to India |
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The US on April 21 made a strong pitch to sell F-16 and F-18 jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF), saying the aircraft were best suited for its current and future needs.
Lt. Gen. Jeffrey B. Kohler, director of the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, the US body that oversees foreign military sales, met IAF and Defence Ministry officials on the sale of the F-16 or F-18 jets.
Two US firms - Boeing and Lockheed Martin - are in the race with companies from Russia, Sweden and France for an Indian contract to buy 126 multi-role aircraft.
Addressing a news conference in New Delhi, Kohler indicated that Indian concerns about the “reliability” of the US as a military supplier - a factor stemming from American laws governing sanctions - and the joint production of the jets had figured in his talks with Indian officials.
“These were preliminary discussions on the F-16 and F-18s. We briefed Indian experts on the details of the aircraft. We will support the major US companies to bid for the Indian tender,” Kohler said.
“The performance of both aircraft will more than meet the current and future requirements of the IAF.”
Licensed production of the jets in India under any possible deal was at the “initial stage of discussions”, he said, noting more talks were needed between the governments of the two countries and the jet manufacturers.
Referring to Indian concerns about possible sanctions, Kohler said: “I’m not sure if any government could give a 100 percent guarantee (on this issue). What we need is a reasonable level of assurance.”
He pointed out the US was currently engaged in 11,800 arms deals worth $223 billion with some 190 countries. “That speaks for our reliability,” he added.
The US has indicated that its overall strategic relationship with India was independent of whether New Delhi decided to buy the American jets as well as Washington’s defence cooperation with Islamabad.
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