Posted on 03/05/2011 6:43:43 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Britain offers Indian Navy Eurofighters while our own carriers go without
Mar 6 2011 by Nigel Nelson, The People
Advanced Typhoon jet fighters turned down by Britain’s defence chiefs to save money are being offered to the INDIAN navy.
It means a foreign country which receives £280million a year of UK aid could end up with a better seaborne air force.
The MoD rejected a new state-of-the art maritime version of the Typhoon by British arms manufacturer BAE Systems.
So last month BAE tried to secure sales by showing off a mock-up of the plane at the Aero India show in Bangalore.
The firm even painted Indian military insignia on the wings and showed simulated film of it landing on an Indian carrier.
Defence minister Lord Astor said: “A navalised Typhoon was rejected on grounds of cost, capability and technical challenge.” BAE said: “We told India we could make them a naval version of the Typhoon.”
The move has raised concerns and former defence minister Lord Moonie is calling for a rethink in London.
He said: “The interest being shown by the Indian navy and the exploratory work done by BAE Systems means conditions are now right to see if Typhoon could meet our needs more quickly and cheaply.”
Britain had opted for the US F35 Joint Strike Fighter but there will not be enough of them ready until 2020.
And last year’s strategic defence review scrapped Harriers, which could have filled the gap in the meantime.
The MoD ordered 232 Typhoons and a few have entered into service with the RAF. Lord Moonie said some of the 232 aircraft could now be converted for the Navy.
Shadow defence minister Kevan Jones added: “It would be ironic if India had carrier-based aircraft but we did not.”
The Government last week said UK aid to India of £280million would continue.
nigel.nelson@people.co.uk
Silly Nigel. The UK is a chose to be a welfare state, not a military power.
Man, that hurts. Build a great plane but can't afford it.
But at least they have National Health Service...
Sounds like us in a little while.
At least the UK did not elect a muslim ruler though Bliar and brown were close.
LOL Aint that the truth.
The new superpowers to be according to the leftist elites and new power of balance scheme they are inventing are going to be China and Russia. Apparently India will play the role that defunct UK used to play. The welfare caliphate of London will have top be happy in it’s new role of European has been third world country.
Ah, so true.
ping
So the UK can’t afford planes for their carriers, but they are paying for India to have them. Only makes sense to politicians.
Just as well. Western powers lack the testicles to employ them properly. At least the Indians may use them to take out a few thousand Muslims, which would be a good start.
Maybe I'm out of date but seems like delta wing aircraft don't handle well at low speed, require higher landing speeds and more runway than conventional jets. Maybe the canards help...
British Farmer sells Cow to buy Milk.
Rolled out Indian Tejas 
In Design Swedish Gripen 
Umm, nope. India or any other customer would have to pay for modifications for the existing Eurofighter to adapt it for the carrier role. What’s been presented is just a concept.
It’s the other way around.
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The US used to. The Douglas Skyray was deployed in the late 50's. Check out the F-4D "Ford" and the Chance Vought F-7U (I'm not sure about the latter), all late first or early second generation designs. They were deployed in the late 50's and early 60's before the mach-2 capable Grumman Tiger and McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom showed up.
It matches the Type 42 air-defence destroyers that currently lack missiles.
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