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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| France takes up cudgels for Airbus |
| 2005-05-05 |
| France takes up cudgels for Airbus In a strongly-worded statement, French Ambassador to India Dominique Girard alleged that "factors other than commercial" swung the nearly $7-billion deal in favour of Boeing. He minced no words: "We are surprised and disappointed. Airbus definitely has an advantage over Boeing... It is clear that some factors other than commercial have played a role." |
| Posted by:john |
| #13 Germans, Russians plan to torpedo French bid Haaahahahahaaa..... |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-05-05 23:32 |
| #12 He is probably pissed off at this as well Sub deal: Germans, Russians plan to torpedo French bid NEW DELHI, India, April 15 -- To trump French firm DCN, German and Russian arms firms have decided to mount a co-ordinated late bid for the Indian order for six attack submarines. The defence ministry has already recommended the acquisition of six French-developed Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy after negotiations with DCN. An investment decision is now pending with the cabinet committee on security. With an estimated price tag of $4.3 billion, this was billed as India's biggest-ever defence deal. It now also promises to be the most bitterly contested one. Flaunting a recent order by a Delhi court exonerating it in a corruption case, the German HDW now intends to make a formal bid for its Type 214 submarine. ''We could present a proposal to the government within four-to-six weeks,'' HDW's chief operations officer Walter Freitag told HT. He acknowledged that hectic efforts were being made by the German government ''at all political levels''. The Germans claim that India is buying an overpriced submarine in the Scorpene. HDW is prepared to pull down the price by ''25 to 30 per cent'' in order to enter the contest at this stage. The most significant part of the German strategy is to rope in the Russians. HDW is prepared to let Russians offer their weapons, radars and electronic suites to go along with its submarines. Russia is still the biggest arms supplier to India and pulls considerable weight. On whether the Germans would make a joint bid with the Russians, an HDW official said, ''Weapon systems like the (Russian) Klub cruise missiles are compatible with our Type 214 submarine. There is a potential for partnership.'' |
| Posted by: john 2005-05-05 20:45 |
| #11 Seems he was not satisfied with the consolation prize: an Indian Airlines proposal to buy 43 Airbus aircraft for nearly $1.9 billion The airline has decided to purchase 20 Airbus A321s, 19 Airbus A319s and four Airbus A320s. The fleet renewal programme will mean that the Boeing 737s of Alliance Air will be replaced by A319s. However, the airline is still going ahead with the leasing of five A319s in the interim to provide immediate facelift to Alliance Air They are playing the Indian political system like a violin, making allegations of corruption designed to tie the Boeing deal in judicial reviews and political infighting for years to come Airbus seeks CVC probe |
| Posted by: john 2005-05-05 20:21 |
| #10 Now now, Mrs. Davis - we don't call them commissions, we call them ''rewards for long and useful service to the Republic''. |
| Posted by: too true 2005-05-05 20:21 |
| #9 I'm so impressed that Dom baby was able to come up with a strongly worded statement. If he would have bothered to, maybe, come up with a strongly worded presentation on behalf of Airbus, they might have gotten the contract instead. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-05-05 20:13 |
| #8 Excellent customer relations, Dom. Blame the Customer; excellent way to lay the foundation for the next sales opportunity. Let me guess...You were getting a commision on this deal, but you'll be transferred before the next one goes down. To Ivory Coast, no doubt. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-05-05 20:04 |
| #7 It appears India doesn't want to single source anything, not a bad idea. Get over it Dominique. Be happy they bought the planes they did when they did. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-05-05 19:58 |
| #6 Golly, you'd almost think we're waging economic warfare against France, the way this poor fellow is grousing? But why on earth would we do such a thing? |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2005-05-05 19:45 |
| #5 It is clear that some factors other than commercial have played a role. Sure as hell did, Girard! Performance and integrity of vertical stabilizers staying on the fuselage had a factor, heh. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-05-05 19:11 |
| #4 Girard reportedly also expressed apprehension about the fate of France's bid to sell Mirage fighter jets to Indian Air Force in the light of US' offer of F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft. ''I am sure the Indian government is wise enough not to base its decision (for fighter jets) on one factor or other but take comprehensive factors into consideration,'' he said. |
| Posted by: john 2005-05-05 18:54 |
| #3 Damn, he is named like a girl, he whines like a (4 year-old) girl, yet the article refers to ''he''. I'm so confused.... |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H. 2005-05-05 18:54 |
| #2 And this differs from other procurements for which Airbus bid how, exactly, other than that you lost????? |
| Posted by: anon 2005-05-05 17:50 |
| #1 France, want some cheese to go with that whine? |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-05-05 17:43 |