09-11-2008, 01:13 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>US arms-makers gun for Indian weapons market </b>
Pioneer.com
Rahul Datta | New Delhi
Even as the US Congress debates the ratification of the India-US nuclear deal, the US arms manufacturing giants are gearing up to demand their pound of flesh in the $30 billion the Indian weapons procurement plans in the next five to seven years. Â
The US companies, hesitant to enter the Indian defence market till now, would now go all out to bag major contracts, including the "mother of all deals" for 126 fighter jets worth over Rs 45,000 crore. In fact, two US aviation giants - Lockheed Martin, which manufactures F-16s, and Boeing, manufacturing F-18 - are in the race for the deal along with Russia, France and Sweden.
Besides this lucrative deal, the US companies would also demand a foot in the contracts for missiles and radars for the Navy and Air Force. These two services are technology intensive and India is keen to acquire the state-of-the-art systems, which are capital intensive.
The US defence industry would lobby hard for these contracts when Defence Minister AK Antony holds delegation-level talks with his counterpart Robert Gates later on Tuesday. Now on a four-day visit to Washington, Antony would also meet Foreign Secretary Condoleeza Rice, besides visiting some industrial complexes.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was saying this for more than year, before election Shame of India, ManMohan Singh, will go for defense deal to pocket more money. I was on dot. Now we have to see how fast he signs deal. Lets see whether procedures are followed or Moron Singh go for without tender and inspection.
Pioneer.com
Rahul Datta | New Delhi
Even as the US Congress debates the ratification of the India-US nuclear deal, the US arms manufacturing giants are gearing up to demand their pound of flesh in the $30 billion the Indian weapons procurement plans in the next five to seven years. Â
The US companies, hesitant to enter the Indian defence market till now, would now go all out to bag major contracts, including the "mother of all deals" for 126 fighter jets worth over Rs 45,000 crore. In fact, two US aviation giants - Lockheed Martin, which manufactures F-16s, and Boeing, manufacturing F-18 - are in the race for the deal along with Russia, France and Sweden.
Besides this lucrative deal, the US companies would also demand a foot in the contracts for missiles and radars for the Navy and Air Force. These two services are technology intensive and India is keen to acquire the state-of-the-art systems, which are capital intensive.
The US defence industry would lobby hard for these contracts when Defence Minister AK Antony holds delegation-level talks with his counterpart Robert Gates later on Tuesday. Now on a four-day visit to Washington, Antony would also meet Foreign Secretary Condoleeza Rice, besides visiting some industrial complexes.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was saying this for more than year, before election Shame of India, ManMohan Singh, will go for defense deal to pocket more money. I was on dot. Now we have to see how fast he signs deal. Lets see whether procedures are followed or Moron Singh go for without tender and inspection.