News
- Trump administration has told the U.S. Congress that it “strongly supports” the sale of F-18 and F-16 fighter planes to India, built by American companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin respectively.
- Both companies have offered to assemble these planes in India, should New Delhi decide to buy them.
Why the support
- Deals that could reduce America’s trade deficit with India and create more jobs in America than they relocate issues that are on top of Mr. Trump’s agenda.
- Defence cooperation with India is so vital to U.S. interests because they need India to be a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific
- Exports to India support over 2,60,000 U.S. jobs across all 50 States.
About the fighter
- F-16 and Gripen, built by Swedish company Saab, are competing for the proposed single engine fighter acquisition for the IAF.
- French Rafale and Boeing’s F/A-18 are competing for the contract for the Navy’s twin engine fleet for its aircraft carriers.
- Lockheed Martin and Tata have formed a joint venture to make F-16, while Saab announced a JV with the Adani group last week for Gripen.
Source : The Hindu
Topic : International Relation
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