Obama to push for more defence deals with India in 2nd term

India on Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama for winning a second term in the White House hoping the economic and defence ties between the two countries will be furthered.

Obama has been instrumental in pushing through defence deals worth $10 billion with India in his first term creating thousands of jobs back home. Many of the defence deals with the US are still in offing.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also congratulated Obama – with whom he shares a special equation -for his re-election. “I have no doubt that there is much more we can do together to further strengthen the India-U.S. partnership and thereby advance peace and stability, expand mutual economic opportunities, harness the potential of science and technology, innovation and higher education and empower our people to address global challenges,” Singh said in his congratulatory message. 

Obama has also been pushing for better relations with India as was evident during his four day presidential tour – the longest overseas visit by him as President. Obama, who broke the racial ceiling for being the first Black elected President in the White House, also expressed his solidarity with India in countering terrorism.

As per keen watchers of the defence industry, there will be “renewed thrust” from Obama on signing of more defence deals with India to help the economic crises back home. The total defence trade between the two countries in last 10 years has been $ 10 billion and in 2011 only India has purchased military equipments worth more than $4.5 billion from the US. The big ticket deals signed with the US in the last five years been eight P-8I maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from Boeing valuing $ 2.1 billion. India is also buying 10 C-17 heavy-lifters from Boeing for $4.1 billion. The six C-130 J special operations aircraft valuing $ 1.2 billion have already arrived in the country and order for six more is in the offing. India is also planning to place an order for M777 ultra light howitzers for $ 700 million to augment its firepower in the mountainous terrain.

The US firms have also emerged as the chosen one for supplying the attack helicopters and the heavy lift helicopters for the Indian Air Force.

In a gesture to reciprocate, the US also eased its US Export Controls and Technology security policies towards India and removed premier Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Commerce Department Entity List.

The US earlier this year unveiled a new military strategy for Asia-Pacific under the leadership of Obama giving a more pivotal role to India to counter the rise of China. The US has been all out trying to woo India by stepping up bilateral defence trade and cooperation. The US also underlined its commitment towards the modernization of the Indian Army.

With the US set to pull out its troops from strife-torn Afghanistan by 2014 end, it has been urging India to play a greater role in stabilizing the country. So far India’s involvement in Afghanistan has been limited to economic and soft skills development. The US is keen on New Delhi’s help in training Afghanistan police and Army.

Indian Army to get its own 'mini air force' now

The Indian Army has finally got an in-principle approval for its demand for a 'mini air force' of its own. Going against the opposition of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to the "duplication of assets", the Defence Ministry on Thursday conceded to the Indian Army's demand of operating attack helicopters.

The letter received by the Indian Army on Thursday mentioned that all "future procurements" of the attack helicopters will be done by the force. This approval has open the speculation that the yet-to-be-procured 22 Boeing Apache AH-64D helicopters are also like to go to the Indian Army. For the last several years the the IAF has been conducting the field and technical evaluations for this contract and it is presently in the Contract Negotiation stage. However, the existing fleet of attack helicopters with the IAF - Mi-25/Mi-35 - will remain with it.

Also the Defence Ministry has given greater role to the Indian Army in the tasking of the medium lift helicopters operated by the IAF. From now on, the tasking given by the Army will be given priority in all times.

Sources indicate the attack helicopters requirement of the Army to be about 10 squadrons. As per plans the Indian Army envisages to have a squadron each of attack/armed, reconnaissance and tactical battle-support helicopters for each of its 13 Corps and the three strike corps headquartered at Mathura, Ambala and Bhopal will get more air assets. In fact, the Army is scheduled to get its first attack helicopter developed domestically Rudra soon. Rudra will be armed with 20mm turrent guns, 70 mm rockets, air-to-air missiles and anti-tank guided missiles.

The Air Force and Army had seen a tussle over deployment of attack helicopters during the 1999 Kargil conflict. Despite repeated requests from the Indian Army, the IAF had refused to deploy attack helicopters citing extreme heights and advantageous position of the enemy will make them sitting duck. Since then the control and operation of air assets has been a bone of contention between the two forces.

IAF to buy 22 Apache attack helcopters

The cat is finally out of the bag. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is buying 22 Boeing Apaceh AH-64D attack helicopters. The contract is expected to be signed in another six months and thereafter the first of the birds will come in next three years. Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne revealed this at the annual press conference before the Air Force Day on October 8. 

With this announcement the IAF Chief also ruled out the 'mini air force' plans of the Indian Army saying it will be "duplication" of assets. Replying to a query of the Defence Express, Air Chief Marshal Browne said: "We cannot afford to have our own little air forces. Tomorrow coast guard will ask for submarine will we give it to them?"

The IAF Chief also made it clear that the attack and medium lift helicopters will continue to remain with the air force. The command and control will lie with the Army and the maintenance and operations will be done by the IAF.

CCS to consider 22 attack choppers deal in July

Another defence deal is going to fall in the kitty of US, as the Indian Air Force (IAF) has chosen the American Boeing’s AH-64D Apache Longbow Block-III over the Russian Mi-28N Night Hunter for supplying the 22 attack helicopters and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is expected to give its nod shortly. 

The trial report of the two was submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2011, and according to sources, the Russian entry into the tender lost out on technical reasons. The IAF will be purchasing 22 attack helicopters worth $ 1.4 billion, including of training, support and spares.

“The Russian entry lost as it was found to be non-compliant on as many as 20 parameters,” officials said.

Both the helicopters were tried in deserts and at high altitude airbase in Leh.

“The proposal will come up for consideration in the CCS next month,” sources added.

The Ah-64 D Apache is a four-blade, twin engine attack helicopter with a tail wheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for two-man crew.

The 22 helicopters deal is part of the IAF’s revamping of its rotary wing fleet – primarily consisting of Chetak/Cheetah and Russian Mi series helicopter. The Apaches will be the first US helicopter in the IAF’s inventory and will replace Mi-35 attack helicopters of Russian vintage.

Besides this, the US contender Chinook CH-47 is the frontrunner with the Russian Mi-26 helicopters for the heavy-lift category. The deal is worth $ 2 billion and the force intends to buy 15 of these units.

Even as the US lost out the big-ticket deal for supplying 126 fighter jets to the IAF, the Indo-US defence deals have been on the rise in the past. The two countries have signed defence deals valuing more than $ 10 billion in the last 5 years. Deals worth many more billions are in the offing. The major deals include acquiring six more C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft, four more P-8I long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles, Jaguar engine upgrades, M-777 ultra-light howitzers and AH-64D attack helicopters.