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Tuesday, March 29, 20051112111100
India: Best Ally, Ever
"F-18s never sold to any other countryAdd to Clippings," by Indrani Bagchi, Times of India, 27 March 2005, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1063658.cms (from Free Republic).
At least, that appears to be America's offer
Boeing, Lockheed Martin's competitor in Indian markets, has sewed up a strategic alliance with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, to conduct research in aerospace materials, encompassing new age nanotechnology, smart materials and even simulation — to infuse the best of these new ideas and technologies into Boeing. These are technologies of critical importance to the future of aerostructures.
By allowing the F-18s to be sold to India, the US is making more than a simple statement of sale. Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, popularly known as F-18s, and land and carrier-based fighter jets have not been sold to any country, even to NATO allies, according to senior aviation officials.
Nice. India is a prospering democracy, and will be an important ally to the United States. America must shepherd China's transformation from despotism to market-oriented friend. Building friendships with other regional powers is part of that.
Friends India and Vietnam
China Looms (Peacefully?) in the Northeast
In different ways, this is as important as American military connectivity with Vietnam. In both cases, the Cold War alliance structure is finally melting away. America is a natural friend to all economically free and peaceful societies, and a natural ally to all free democracies.
In another angle, America's sale of F-16s to Pakistan is still worrying. It may have been necessary, but as the article makes clear the F-18s are far superior to what we sold the pseudo-Islamist dictatorship.
As the details of the US deal for India unfold, it is clear thatthe F-16s for Pakistan are no match for what India could access from the US. The Lockheed Martin executive, Mike Kelly, was quoted as saying, "We have in the past taken up building of such exclusive fighters for UAE and are prepared to manufacture F-16s to India's special requirements."
09:45 Posted by Dan tdaxp (Webmaster) in Greater East Asia, South Asia | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: india, aircraft, f18s
Trackbacks
South Korea: Not An Ally
"Roh Hints at New East Asian Order," Digital Chosunilbo, 22 March 2005, http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200503/200503220024.html.
"Seoul Is Beginning to Reap What It Sowed," Digital Chosunilbo, 1 April 2005, http://english.chosun.com...
Trackback by: tdaxp | Monday, April 04, 2005