The American “Invasion” Of India – Israel Watches With Concern

The American “Invasion” Of India – Israel Watches With Concern

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By ARIE EGOZI

The U.S has set India as a target for its defense industries and this creates great concerns in Israel.

India in recent years appeared to be the “next big thing” for the Israeli defense exports but now there are big hurdles.

The last development -Boeing plans to assemble either Chinook heavy-lift helicopters or Apache attack helicopters and offers to manufacture fighter jet aircraft in India.

Boeing Chairman Jim McNerney said that the company is considering to open assembly lines in India for these two types of helicopters

“This market is too important, capability is too high and commitment is significant and that kind of commitment is important for us

India had last month signed a contract for 15 Chinook and 22 Apache helicopters. “Large sections of the Chinook fuselage are already manufactured in India and discussions are ongoing with our Indian partners to make Apache parts,” Boeing India President Pratyush Kumar had then said.

McNerney expressed his hope that India will over the next couple of years call for bids for a fighter aircraft.

“Our approach is going to be to take a current, state-of-the-art fighter and bid. The quantities are uncertain…Our bid will include a proposal to make the plane here,” he said.

“The value to India is a very modern production system integrated to make a very sophisticated machine. That kind of industrial base capability is as important as the fighter itself. These modern manufacturing techniques can go into many different industries,” he said.

The Boeing chairman also said that on the defense side, the Indian and US governments have to decide the issue of technology sharing.

“Leaving that aside, and generally speaking, the more cutting edge the technology, then less the sharing will be,” he said.

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