India expected to sign helicopter deal during US SECDEF visit

India is expected to sign a delayed $2.5B helicopter deal during an upcoming visit by the Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.

The deal is both a Direct Commercial Sale, and a Foreign Military Sale for 22 AH-64Es, and 15 CH-47Fs. The Apaches will replace their aging Mi-25/35 fleet. It was selected over the Mi-28. The CH-47 was selected over the Mi-26T2.

India is slowly adding more Western aircraft to their inventory, with recent purchases of C-17s, P-8s, C-130s, and the selection of Rafael fighters.

m.aviationweek.com...

Hi Zaph, always read your threads...this is just a start, India is the fastest growing economy right now, they have embraced free market capitalism, have a lot of people, and have issues with loud neighbors.....

a reply to: teslahowitzer

And they're finding that while Western equipment is more expensive in the short term, it lasts longer and is more reliable in the long term.

With the Pakistanis increasingly going down the China route it's only natural that India will go down the western route. The Indians do like a measure of local manufacture so maybe they will start assembling more western tech at home too. Russia will always be there as a limited supplier too, they offer cut price tech that can be assembled by Indians and are fairly reliable too. With the French going down the Mistral cancellation to the Ruskies it emhasises to Indians how you need long term reliability from suppliers/partners, something you can not trust with the French

a reply to: ufoorbhunter

All foreign contacts with India require a 30% reinvestment in production in India. This deal appears to have reduced it to 20%, but they haven't disclosed the details of what will be produced in India.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: ufoorbhunter

All foreign contacts with India require a 30% reinvestment in production in India. This deal appears to have reduced it to 20%, but they haven't disclosed the details of what will be produced in India.

There lies the big issue for western companies and the US government. By agreeing to local manufacture the USA is surely risking giving away tech secrets to Russia who have big influence with the Indian military.

a reply to: ufoorbhunter

There's a risk of that just with selling gear to India. But that has been a rub in the past. It'll really get interesting if they decide to kill the T-50 in the long run and go with the F-35 for the FGFA.

Im thinking with their recent dealings with the T-50 they seem to be putting some distance between themselves and the soviets.With the Apache they will have decades of work already worked out for them and have a nice solid foundation to start things again.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: ufoorbhunter

There's a risk of that just with selling gear to India. But that has been a rub in the past. It'll really get interesting if they decide to kill the T-50 in the long run and go with the F-35 for the FGFA.

India has time and money invested in the T-50. Its a Russian,India collaboration. Besides the Rafael deal is most likely dead. Replaced by a small deal of buying 30-60 jets. Rest of the funds will be invested on indigenous LCA program. Russia has been attempting to damage India's Rafael deal with France for a long time now, It seems to have succeeded in a way.

As for Russian equipment, we are still buying Russian equipment from Sukhoi's to Mig-29K's. Sorry for the late reply.

a reply to: maddy21

India is extremely unhappy with the T-50 though. With the cuts Russia has made, and the problems they've had in development, especially with the engine problems, there's a very real chance of it being killed, even with the money they have in it.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Surely they wouldn't sell F-35 to India would they ? Hell of a gamble with all that tech

a reply to: nelloh62

Why do you think I said it could get interesting.

a reply to: Zaphod58

You would think that all parties with "stuff" in that craft might have something to say about it.

a reply to: nelloh62

One requirement to sell to India though is that a certain amount has to be built there. Building the F-35 would be a huge boom to them. With them swinging to the west and somewhat away from Russia, I can see a deal going through.