NEW DELHI - Washington is not pressuring India to buy US fighter jets to replace its ageing fleet and aircraft manufacturers around the world will be asked for sale proposals, Indiaâs air force chief said on Thursday.
The Indian Air Force plans to buy 126 multi-role fighters for an estimated $9 billion to modernise a fleet that consists mostly of vintage Russian MiGs, in one of the biggest global military aircraft purchases in recent times. While New Delhi has shortlisted the French Mirage 2000, the Russian MiG-29, Swedenâs JAS 39 Gripen and the American F-16 for the deal, Washington has also offered to sell Boeingâs F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Representatives of the US aircraft makers and senior US defence officials have already made several presentations to Indian officials this year. âThere has never been any pressure on the Indian armed forces to buy anything,â Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi told a news conference. âIf the Indian air force chief, whoever it might be when these aircraft are finally bought, if he does not want that aeroplane he will not get it. Full stop,â Tyagi said.
Some defence experts say growing warmth between India and the United States and a far-reaching defence pact signed between the two countries in June could pressure New Delhi to choose the American planes. |