(Asien) Indiens Luftwaffe

[Jacks]

Guter Überblick über die Rüstungsprojekte der indischen Luftwaffe.

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India Clarifies Combat Aircraft Plans

PARIS --- The Indian government has this week gone some ways to clarify its plans to renew its fleet of combat aircraft, but there are lingering doubts as to whether it will be able to implement these plans in their present form.

For example, the cost and complexity of aircraft development programs makes an investment in three distinct jet trainer programs a needless duplication of expenditure and energy. The Indian air force’s procurement plans also include fighter and transport aircraft, AEW&C aircraft, helicopters and beyond-visual range air-to-air missiles, but India has allocated about $50 billion to defense procurement over the next five years.

The most significant development was the Feb. 7 confirmation by Air Force Chief of Staff S.K. Tyagi that India would buy 125 new combat aircraft, and had issued Requests for Information (RFI) to four manufacturers: Dassault Aviation for the Mirage 2000, Lockheed Martin for the F-16, Russia for the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Saab for the Gripen. The Eurofighter Typhoon was not included as “there are specifications which the IAF had in mind which the Typhoon does not match,” Tyagi was quoted as saying.

Until recently, Indian had been negotiating directly with Dassault to buy 120-140 Mirages, which it already operates, and no reason was provided for its new procurement strategy. The inclusion of the F-16 is somewhat surprising as India has previously operated Russian and French combat aircraft, and introducing US weapons, logistics and training would undoubtedly add to capital and operating costs.

Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters during the Aero India show in Bangalore this week that Washington has shown interest in participating "in a big way" in India's defense market, and that while New Delhi wanted to "encourage" this trend the US would have to demonstrate its "credibility and dependability" as a supplier. He also noted that there are political and legal obstacles.
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