NEW DELHI: New Delhi seems to be bending backwards to explain why two iconic US Fighter aircraft have been left out of the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Competition to supply fighter jets to India. However, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to push for the fifth generation F-35 on her visit to India.
There could be some American sour grapes over the elimination of two iconic American fighter aircraft from the Indian MMRCA competition, Lockheed's F-16 and Boeing's F-18 Super Hornet, on display when Hillary Clinton begins the strategic dialogue with her Indian counterparts.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) brass apparently bent over backwards to brief senior Lockheed and Boeing representatives last week on why their aircraft were eliminated even though there was no requirement to do so.
The betting is that Hillary Clinton may seek redress and push the case for the Lockheed built fifth generation super stealth F-35 Lightning. Lockheed representatives told journalists the Indian Navy had shown interest and both the navy and the Air Force were demonstrated its capabilities in a simulator.
Retired Air Marshal PS Ahluwalia said, "The JSF is tech of the future and into 5 gen if not beyond. The question is if we get technology in the future for any conflict term or participate in any war fighting capability it will have to be technology that will be outstanding."
Lockheed claims that the basic F-35 could cost as low as $ 65 million, which is cheaper than the $ 85 million for the fourth generation French Rafale and the $ 125 million also for the fourth generation Eurofighter Typhoon, the two aircraft remaining in the MMRCA competition.
"It sounds difficult for me to understand that it will cost only 10-15 million more that the F-16 or F-18," Ahluwalia said.
At this point it is too early to say if the Lightning has any traction in India. Much will depend on how plans for building a fifth generation fighter jointly with Russia develop. But India has to count on America to keep the lightning pot boiling.
Surya Gangadharan