India Not Likely to Come to Resolution in Production of F16 Fighter Aircraft

Washington: India is not likely to come to a resolution in ‘transfer of technology’ in production of F16 and other fighter jets for at least a year and a half, a top Pentagon official has said.

Obviously technology transfer is something that India is really really hoping for -- looking for so how much we’re able to work through - will probably be a key determinant, US Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James told reporters yesterday. Then a key determinant in what India ultimately ends up doing will relate to the make in India part, how many jobs, what sorts of technologies might transfer, James said. The Indian government is not likely to come to a resolution on this for at least a year, a year and a half perhaps, that’s my impression, she said.

James, who recently returned from India said, India is thinking about manufacturing not just F-16s and F-18s. “They’re also considering the Grippons and a variety of other aircraft. But I always consider it my - part of my job when I travel overseas is I am team USA and I am going to talk about our fantastic programs and the importance of training and interoperability. These are the types of things that I stress plus the total package approach,” she said in response to a question.

“My discussions related to the importance of interoperability, joint training, how we have and of course, many countries around the world have extensive experience with both the F-16, the F-18,” she said. “Now there is always technology transfer issues to work through but obviously, just about the F-16, that has been produced and has been sold to many different countries around the world so it’s a question of working through these technology transfer issues,” James said.

The US Air Force Secretary said, in India she discussed with Indian officials its modernisation programs, their desired modernisation program as well as their strong interest in co-production and co-development technology transfer. Some of this would occur under the defence technology and trade initiative. That, of course, would be viewed as complementary, to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s make in India campaign, so they are interested in growing jobs in India, she said.

PTI