Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Originally posted by: Aimster
India is not going to get any F-16s so long as Pakistan is not allowed to get any F-16s. They can request whatever they want. Doesn't mean the U.S is going to give it to them.
Way back when, Pakistan actually had F-16's going down the line under construction.
The Clinton Administration terminated the deal because of the Pakistni Nuclear Program,
and those aircraft were build as 'White-Tails' - Generic F-16's that could be finished for
whatever 'Other' country that wanted to buy them.
Now there is effort under the Bush-II Administration to restore the purchase & make good
on completion of that sale - at 'Todays' prices, somewhat above the previous price structure.
Hasn't happened yet, and even at that there's still a 5 year backlog before a
customer can receive their first unit. So that would put India, if they wanted to play,
out to a 7, 8, or 9 year backlog before they could get their first vehicle.
They won't wait, and won't pay Euro-Fighter prices. My bet is they'll get Russian planes.
Pakistan already has about 40 F-16's or so. Right now, the Bush administration is seriously considering giving Pakistan more F-16's.
Yes, India is most likely out of the F-16 shopping list, and likey will choose French of Russian.
Most likely, the Mirage 2000-5 or MiG29-M2 as my previous post states.
Which do you think is the better fighter jet? Which do all of you think is better suited for the Indian Air Force?