build them here in the USA!
"Lockheed is seen as competing with Sweden’s Gripen fighter and Boeing’s F/A-18 for the Indian contract."
Building the aircraft in India would be a huge advantage for Lockheed (or Boeing) in this competition. What if the Swedes decide to build in India and Lockheed is prohibited from doing so? That could easily tip the balance in the Swede's favor. That's not going to help Ft. Worth one bit.
And, for all we know, it might be a requirement of the Indian competition.
If I were Trump I would just get out of the way.
The planes can be built in India if sold on the world market
Not so easy.
These aren’t fighters that will be built in India and imported into the US. They’re fighters to be used by India.
When the US was contracting for the Beretta M9 pistol, or the next generation Air Force Tanker, there were stipulations that those systems had to be built in America. We still have the Berry Amendment to allow the purchases of materials and equipment made in America.
Why wouldn’t India want the same?
Really. I mean, why not? If India wants our planes-—and apparently it took them about 20 years to design and build a crappy battle tank-—then we build them.
A couple of points here-
Trump cancelled the $23 Million order for a new Air Force 1- and I’m willing to bet that he has HIS OWN plane repainted or keeps using the current plane.
Secondly- With all the Muslims in India, how could you build such a sensitive war plane in that country? The technology won’t stay within the walls of the factory, IMO.
Boeing is making a mistake here—Trump or no Trump.