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Afghanistan/South Asia
India to replace Mig-21s
2004-03-04
Indian Air Force is negotiating with French, Russian and US bidders for the purchase of 125 frontline multi-role fighters to partially replace its fleet of about 300 MiG-21 aircraft.
"In the interim, we're using '53 Studebakers. They're really much safer, even when we fly them..."
Major French aircraft manufacturer Dassault is currently the frontrunner with its offer of upgraded Mirage 2000-5 aircraft, while Lockheed-Martin is offering technology transfer of its F-16 Fighting Falcon. Two major Russian fighter companies Mikoyan-Gureyvich, makers of the MiG fighters, and Robensoexport, makers of Sukhoi aircraft, were reported to have formed a consortium to jointly bid for the Indian contract, officials at India Defence Ministry were quoted as saying here. The IAF had projected an immediate need for some 125 new fighter planes, with the selection expected to be completed in a few months, officials said.
That's because nobody wants to fly the deathtraps they've got now...
Posted by:Fred

#9  AFAIK, the LCA is still an active program. But if they were going to cancel it and buy something else, the way we showed ourselves to be an unreliable supplier with it would probably put us at a disadvantage for providing a replacement.
Posted by: Phil Fraering   2004-3-4 8:26:44 PM  

#8  So, what's wrong with the Mig-21 (new Nato codename "Kamikaze")? :-)

I agree with OP... if it cheeses off the Chinese and convinces the Pakistanis that selling nuke technology overseas is a no-no, it's a good thing. Besides, the maintenance contracts for the aircraft will be a long-term military relationship with the Indians of a sort that we haven't had with them for quite a while.
Posted by: snellenr   2004-3-4 6:08:52 PM  

#7  It will also piss of the paki's cause they got a much older type of F-16.
Posted by: Evert Visser   2004-3-4 11:49:55 AM  

#6   I don't see any compelling reason to sell them our top-notch stuff.
In addition to jobs, as LH mentioned, here are a few other reasons, just off the top of my head:
1. The export version (except for the F-16i) is late 1980's technology, not "our top-notch stuff".
2. The F-16 requires a SIGNIFICANT learning curve for most US pilots, so the Indians that actually master the aircraft will be very, very good. They're also much closer to Pakistan than we are.
3. Any such sale would also require a large number of technicians come to the United States to learn to maintain the aircraft. Most will leave with a favorable impression, which they will spread in their home country (check with the Germans who trained at Alamagordo, NM).
4. It'll tighten a jaw or six in China, not to mention Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar, excuuuusse me), and the rest of South/Southeast Asia.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2004-3-4 11:39:57 AM  

#5  "I don't see any compelling reason to sell them our top-notch stuff."

jobs?
Posted by: liberalhawk   2004-3-4 11:01:23 AM  

#4  So these guys are open to replacing MiGs with newer MiGs? Sheesh. As far as replacements go, let them go for the Mirage. I don't see any compelling reason to sell them our top-notch stuff.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-3-4 10:54:08 AM  

#3  ...Phil, I was under the impression that LCA has actually been a goner for some time now - is it still officially 'under development'?

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2004-3-4 10:47:16 AM  

#2  You know, Fred, I think you're cackling a little too loudly. I thought the original Indian Air Force plan was to have replaced these planes with the LCA, which got delayed the better part of a decade when we stopped selling them the engine for it and put an embargo in place on warplane technology, in response to nuclear tests.
Posted by: Phil Fraering   2004-3-4 9:16:36 AM  

#1  Fred, that's just propoganda. The Mig-21 is perfectly safe.

...

Bwahahahahahahhahaha!
Posted by: Charles   2004-3-4 6:31:21 AM  

00:00