Posted on 08/18/2005 9:56:00 AM PDT by Gengis Khan
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 16: After the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal, the cementing of military ties has begun. Pentagon’s Defence Cooperation Security Agency (DSCA) chief Lt General Jeffrey B Kohler is expected here next month to make a classified technical presentation on the anti-missile Patriot Advanced Capability-3 system, F-16 and F-18 fighters.
Defence Ministry sources said Gen Kohler’s visit may see the Indian Navy possibly acquire USS Trenton, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship, along with minesweepers. The DCSA, which oversees US military foreign sales, may also offer the P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft to the Indian Navy on lease basis.
On July 25, the Pentagon informed the US Congress about the possible sale of USS Trenton to India while moving the amendment to Department of Defence Appropriation Bill.
Vice-Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Yashwant Prasad, is leading a Navy team to the US this month to examine the Trenton before acquisition plans are finalised. USS Trenton was commissioned on March 6, 1971 in the US Navy and has been offered to Indian Navy at a rock-bottom price.
Accompanying Gen Kohler will be representatives from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, makers of PAC-3 systems and F-16 and F-18 fighters. They are expected here between September 5 and 9.
During his visit, Gen Kohler will meet Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt, Secretary (Defence Production) Dhanendra Kumar, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister M Natarajan, armed forces chiefs and senior officials from Ministry of External Affairs and National Security Council Secretariat.
Though classified presentations on military hardware by the US are often described here as sweeteners, Defence Ministry officials are eagerly waiting for technical briefings on the PAC-3 anti-missile defence system, F-16 and F-18 fighters.
The PAC-3 system is an improvement of its previous avatars as it uses kinetic energy rather than explosives to knock down an incoming cruise or ballistic missile. Given that India has a no-first use policy, it needs to beef up its anti-missile defence capability.
Although Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that New Delhi will build its own anti-missile system, the fact is that Indian expertise in this strategic area is quite limited and PAC-3 will at least bridge the gap before the indigenous system comes of an age.
The American forces use a mixture of PAC-2 (which uses explosives) and PAC-3 systems to tackle the broad spectrum of ballistic missiles.
Technical presentations of the F-16 and F-18 fighters—these will include briefings on the on-board radar and armaments—will help the Defence Ministry as India plans to acquire 123 multi-role fighters for the IAF.
Well it's about time we did the right thing by India. With China and Russia getting cozy and holding joint military exercises, we have to have a big ally...none better than India. Now as far as getting the Pakis upset... well, it's more like we have a personal deal with Musharraf rather than Pakistan as a nation (which is totally wacked out). Musharraf can be bounced out on his butt tomorrow---that's just how Pakistan does government--so why should we really risk anything substantial with the Pakis when it's such a jihadi loving society--although Musharraf is a halfway reasonable guy that doesn't want his head chopped off.
Can they buy the rest of NJ with it?
Why not make them buy a new one and creat jobs?
If they want a new one, it would be built in India
True but its impossible to build each and every component there. Its more of an assembly rather than manufacturing each and every component. Jobs will be created here as well.
If they had to buy new one it wouldn't he a rebuild of a steam-age relic like the Austin Class. The only US source candidate is the Harper's Ferry class 
But that's a fairly basic design with only minimal aviation and Force Headquarters facilities, the very features which the Indians would be looking for.
The US design with these capabiliites is the San Antonio Class 
- but that's too much ship for anything less than a super-power to operate.
So a new LPD with decent headquarters and avaiation facilites woud be
a Brit Albion 
French Foudre 
Dutch Rotterdam 
Japanese Osumi 
Italian San Giorgio 
OR
A nice second hand Austin 
which has the Force Headquarters, if not the Avation, Facilties, is cheap, and available soonest
Thanks for the cool pics.
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