By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington: Although the US lost out in the bid to sell India 126 multi-role combat jets, it has offered New Delhi “top-of-the-line technology”, including “the best in the world” Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
“The US F-16 and F-18 competed, but were not down-selected, in the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition in April 2011,” the US defence department said in a report to the US Congress on US-India Security Cooperation.
“Despite this setback, we believe US aircraft, such as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), to be the best in the world,” said the Pentagon report prepared in response to a request from the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee on a five-year action plan to strengthen bilateral defence relations.
“Should India indicate interest in the JSF, the United States would be prepared to provide information on the JSF and its requirements (infrastructure, security, etc.) to support India’s future planning.”
India has demonstrated its interest in upgrading its inventory of fighter aircraft, the report said noting “It intends to purchase 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft and is working with Russia on the development of the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).
The Department of Defence, along with the Departments of State and Commerce, will advocate for US solutions to Indian defence needs, it said. “We recognize that India is also seeking to build its own indigenous defence industry, and is looking for the best technologies to use in its defence sector.
“The United States wants to develop deeper defence industrial cooperation with India, including a range of cooperative research and development activities,” it said asserting, “The United States is committed to providing India with top-of-the-line technology.”
The Department of Defence is continually looking for ways to expand defence cooperation with India, the report said. “We are seeking opportunities for increased science and technology cooperation that may lead to co-development opportunities with India as a partner.”
“The United States has taken many steps in recent years to facilitate science and technology and research and development cooperation with India,” the report said.
“In so doing, we have signalled our unambiguous intent to pursue cooperative opportunities on increasingly sophisticated systems,” it said suggesting, “As our relationship continues to mature, we expect co-development of armaments to become a reality.”
Over the next five years, the United States “will continue to establish itself as a reliable defence supplier to India and look for opportunities to enable further training and exchanges between our militaries as India continues its military modernization,” the report said.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at [email protected])