Indian C-17s
I don't object to aid being given where it really is needed, but this item from yesterday's Def pro makes it clear that India doesn't need our help! I have written on this and the Indian P8 purchase to my (Tory) MP but so far with no answers.
Indian Air Force to receive 10 Boeing-built C-17 heavy transport aircraft
09:25 GMT, June 7, 2011 defpro.com | Following India’s recent decision to eliminate all US contestants from its future fighter competition, some observers expressed concerns that India might be dissatisfied with the United States’ reliability as an arms supplier or might even try to distance itself from the United States. Rumours of such a trend, however, are not likely to fall on fertile ground, in particular, when considering India’s plans to purchase 10 C-17 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft in the country’s largest-ever procurement of US-built defence technology, with an estimated value of more than $4.1 billion.
According to AFP, citing an unnamed government official, the procurement plan was recently approved at a meeting of the government’s cabinet committee on security affairs. This clears the path for Washington and New Delhi to formally sign the government-to-government sale, which will be carried out within the framework of the US foreign military sale (FMS) programme. The press agency’s source further explained that the terms of the contract would require Boeing “to invest 30 per cent of the contract amount to set up defence-related facilities in the country.”
With regard to the progress being made in the planned purchase, the US company today stated: “With the sale approved we are excited about the opportunity to work with India on this great program and look forward to official notification of a signed letter of agreement (LOA).”
Other news sources reported last month that this initial contract for 10 aircraft could be added by a follow-on order for another six of these heavy transport aircraft, intended to significantly boost India’s military airlift capabilities. The country’s Air Force, the world’s fourth largest, seeks to replace its ageing fleet of Russian-built Ilyushin-76 aircraft, which increasingly often experienced technical problems and had to remain on the ground for extended periods.
AN INVALUABLE ASSET FOR THE INDIAN AIR FORCE
According to 8ak, retired Indian Wing Commander Raghu Rajan said that the introduction of the C-17 would enhance India’s capability to mobilise more troops in a shorter span of time, since they are larger than the IL-76 aircraft. As the swift mobilisation of resources remains one of the key capabilities in winning wars, according to Raghu Rajan, this aircraft would prove to be an invaluable asset for the IAF and India.
It is especially the aircraft’s performance and flexibility that reportedly convinced the Indian government to proceed with the purchase. This includes its ability to operate from runways as short as 3,500 feet and only 90 feet in width. Additionally, the C-17 has been equipped with thrust reversers that can be used to back the aircraft and reverse direction on narrow taxiways using a three-point turn manoeuvre, according to Boeing.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) had an opportunity to take a close look at the US airlift giant during a joint airlift exercise in India in late October 2009, as well as at the Aero India trade show in February 2009. Since then, the Indian government has acknowledged that it considered buying a specific number of C-17s.
A SIGNIFICANT ORDER FOR US DEFENCE INDUSTRY
As defpro.com reported, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that India requested the purchase of 10 C-17s in late April 2010.[4] As the DSCA outlined last year, the contract would also include 45 Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 engines (40 installed and 5 spare engines), 10 AN/ALE-47 counter-measures dispensing systems, 10 AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems, as well as further associated equipment and services.