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| India-Pakistan | |||
| Russian blackmail won't work, India may dump Gorshkov deal | |||
| 2008-11-18 | |||
| New Delhi: "Pay up $2 billion more for the aircraft carrier Gorshkov, or else we call off the deal" - that was the Russian threat on Friday. But if the Russians had expected the Indians to whimper and comply, they were sadly mistaken. Former Indian Navy chief, admiral (Retd) Arun Prakash said, "This is nothing but sheer, bare-faced blackmail." Russia suddenly upped the price three years after it signed a $750 million contract for supplying the refurbished Admiral Gorshkov to India. However, the Navy Chief gave enough indication that India's patience with Russia was running thin. Indian Navy Chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta said, "I don't think that there is anything like they taking advantage of us, because we can also put our foot down and say it's a government to government contract." Under pressure, India snubbed its tough talking Navy Chief last year and agreed to renegotiate the price. But with Russia now serving an ultimatum, opinion in India is building up against the deal. Admiral Arun Prakash says, "The long-term price that we pay for 25 years of mischief, of twisting our arm will be much more than what we pay now." But India urgently needs a replacement for its only aircraft carrier, the ageing Viraat. The indigenous carrier is still many years away. So, can India do without the Gorshkov? Admiral Arun Prakash says, "I don't think there will be a catastrophe if we don't get the Gorshkov. India can do without carrier for a year or two.
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| Posted by:john frum |
| #9 CHINESE MIL FORUM > REPORT: CHINA SECRETLY SUBVERTING INDIA, IS NOW TOP SUPPLER OF REBELS [India's NE]; + PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > INDIA FALLS BEHIND ITS NEIGHBORS IN VARIOUS IMPORTANT HEALTH, SOCIAL INDICATORS, ALso from PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > HINDU AL-QAEDA: ASIAS NEW TERROR CENTRAL? US "Wag the Dog" MSM is all but ignoring the rise of INDIA + INDIAN-HINDI RELIGIOUS TERROR ORGS AS A SPONSOR AND PROLIFERATOR OF REGIONAL-GLOBAL TERROR!? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-11-18 22:44 |
| #8 Ranger and Indy are the same class as is the Hawk and Connie; even if one were cannabalized to make the other operational, there is still a lot of life in them, even for oil burners. and for half mts comments: since the lawn dart Mafia took over NAVAIR's tac air fixed wing assets, anything that ain't got an '-18' painted on the grille gets parked in the desert. putting aside my personal affection for the lawn dart (NOT!) the Hoover would have been an excellent tanker, but we sold out to the USAF in the name of 'joint ops.' and at the same time gave up long range sea-based ASW to the VP community, relying on their 'P-8A' promise. Organic ASW is now limited to the various H-60 variants and even they are being reconfigured to a 'one size fits most' vertical truck role. it would be an interesting discussion to have regarding the CV and the Chinese sub last year if the Vikings had still been in the airwing mix... |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2008-11-18 14:42 |
| #7 signed a $750 million contract for supplying the refurbished Admiral Gorshkov to India "Kon-drrrract? Vot kon-drrract?" Personally, I don't have any faith in BO's foreign policy, and would assert he won't intervene to 'prevent any slight to China'. We'll see... |
| Posted by: logi_cal 2008-11-18 11:17 |
| #6 Oh, all of those ships could be rehabbed. It's a question of how much it would cost. And for $2 billion, one could (I'm guessing) get a fair ways down the road refitting Ranger, Independence or Constellation. What's missing here is a little imagination and will. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2008-11-18 08:11 |
| #5 Ranger is missing one or both rudders. Mike After November 4th, feeling a bit rudderless myself. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-11-18 07:28 |
| #4 USN,Ret - My understanding is that of all those ships, only Kitty Hawk is in any condition at all to be used again. I know Indy has gotten almost no maintenance or upkeep, and Ranger is missing one or both rudders. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2008-11-18 07:02 |
| #3 S-3's , A/KA-6's Speaking of a navy in need.... |
| Posted by: .5mt 2008-11-18 05:58 |
| #2 In addition to the Hawk, so is the Independence (CV-62), Constellation (CV-64), and Ranger (CV-61) all sitting quietly up here at Bremerton Naval Shipyard. BO sould take the 2 billion bribe money, sell at least one of them to India and modernize their fleet, as well as remove the overhead that we incur to keep them in 'reserve.' Throw in a handful of F-4's, S-3's , A/KA-6's, H-3's and Hummers from Davis Mothan and you have a turn key battle group. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2008-11-18 01:01 |
| #1 ION, CHINA > Officio hints that any future Chin PLAN Carrier will be for regional "defensive purposes" only, NOT FOR "GLOBAL REACH" SCOPES. As for INDIA, considering how many times Russia's hardware had failed to meet their requirements + now reportedly killed a number of Indian citizens ala NERPA fire, METHINKS SAFE TO SAY INDIA'S NAVY WOULD PROB BE BETTER OFF WID A CERTAIN "HAVE PROPELLERS, WILL LOSE" FRENCH CV, AS THE USN LIKES SINKING THEIR AMPHIB CV'S FOR FLORIDA REEFS??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-11-18 00:28 |