07-06-2009, 09:19 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>US armtwists Israeli firm on IAF deal: Report</b>
6 Jul 2009, 0331 hrs IST, TNN
NEW DELHI: Jostling seems to have begun among contenders for the `mother of all defence deals' -- the Rs 42,000 crore project to acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for IAF -- with field trials slated to begin in July-August.
<b>Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post reported that US has pressurised Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to back out of partnership with Swedish aerospace company Saab, which is fielding its Gripen fighter for the MMRCA contract.
The Israeli defence ministry ordered IAI to pull out of the deal with Saab after Pentagon expressed concern that US technology would be integrated into the Gripen offered to India. "The stated concern was that western technology in Israeli hands would make its way to the Indians," an Israeli official told the newspaper.
But what was found "strange" with the US request was that American aviation majors Boeing and Lockheed Martin are themselves in the fray for the lucrative MMRCA deal. </b>
Israeli officials said US had probably intervened because if IAI competed for the deal with Saab, it would force Boeing and Lockheed Martin to lower their prices.
Incidentally, Gripen is considered to be one of the cheapest among the six contenders, which include the American F/A-18 `Super Hornet' (Boeing) and F-16 `Falcon' (Lockheed Martin), French Rafale (Dassault), Russian MiG-35 (United Aircraft Corporation) and Eurofighter Typhoon (consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies).
All the contenders have already mounted high-voltage campaigns in the hotly-contested race, worth around $10.4 billion, in which India is sure to factor in its geo-political considerations as well, as reported by TOI earlier.
The six fighters are to be put through the paces in two sets of field trials conducted in summer and winter, ranging from the snow-capped peaks of Leh, scorching Rajasthan desert (Jaisalmer) and humid conditions of south India (Bangalore).
Moreover, the fighters will also be evaluated in the countries of their origin. So, in effect, the trial results will be out only by mid-2010 at the earliest.
The commercial bids will only be opened, examined and compared after a shortlist is made of the top two or three contenders following the extensive field trials and staff evaluation.
With the final negotiations to begin thereafter, the entire process is expected to take a minimum of two years before the deal is actually inked. While 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf, the rest will be manufactured in India under transfer of technology.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/article...4,prtpage-1.cms
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6 Jul 2009, 0331 hrs IST, TNN
NEW DELHI: Jostling seems to have begun among contenders for the `mother of all defence deals' -- the Rs 42,000 crore project to acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for IAF -- with field trials slated to begin in July-August.
<b>Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post reported that US has pressurised Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to back out of partnership with Swedish aerospace company Saab, which is fielding its Gripen fighter for the MMRCA contract.
The Israeli defence ministry ordered IAI to pull out of the deal with Saab after Pentagon expressed concern that US technology would be integrated into the Gripen offered to India. "The stated concern was that western technology in Israeli hands would make its way to the Indians," an Israeli official told the newspaper.
But what was found "strange" with the US request was that American aviation majors Boeing and Lockheed Martin are themselves in the fray for the lucrative MMRCA deal. </b>
Israeli officials said US had probably intervened because if IAI competed for the deal with Saab, it would force Boeing and Lockheed Martin to lower their prices.
Incidentally, Gripen is considered to be one of the cheapest among the six contenders, which include the American F/A-18 `Super Hornet' (Boeing) and F-16 `Falcon' (Lockheed Martin), French Rafale (Dassault), Russian MiG-35 (United Aircraft Corporation) and Eurofighter Typhoon (consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies).
All the contenders have already mounted high-voltage campaigns in the hotly-contested race, worth around $10.4 billion, in which India is sure to factor in its geo-political considerations as well, as reported by TOI earlier.
The six fighters are to be put through the paces in two sets of field trials conducted in summer and winter, ranging from the snow-capped peaks of Leh, scorching Rajasthan desert (Jaisalmer) and humid conditions of south India (Bangalore).
Moreover, the fighters will also be evaluated in the countries of their origin. So, in effect, the trial results will be out only by mid-2010 at the earliest.
The commercial bids will only be opened, examined and compared after a shortlist is made of the top two or three contenders following the extensive field trials and staff evaluation.
With the final negotiations to begin thereafter, the entire process is expected to take a minimum of two years before the deal is actually inked. While 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf, the rest will be manufactured in India under transfer of technology.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/article...4,prtpage-1.cms
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