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kicked out of Iran , the US promptly slapped sanctions against Tehran , denying its former ally, spares in its war with Iraq . Iranian Air Force F-14 Tomcats started falling from the sky, as a result of which Iran simply stopped using them.
Again, in the early eighties when India was planning to beef up its air force, the Swedish Gripen was one of the front-runners. However, the aircraft had to be scratched from the IAF's list because the plane had a US-made engine and Washington wouldn't approve the sale. India went on to buy the Jaguars from Britain
| But perhaps it's Pakistan case that has set off the alarm bells in Vayu Sena Bhavan. A loyal ally for 50 years, Pakistan had sanctions imposed on it for its support to the mullahs in Afghanistan and at home.Former air chief S.K. Kaul told a leading Indian weekly, “Look what the Americans did to the Pakistanis. How can we trust them? They always kept us on the blacklist.” |
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Russian and French aircraft have served Indian needs for decades. The hiccup over the MiG-21 spares apart, the Russians have been reliable suppliers. Besides, Russian aircraft are used in several European countries which even produce the spares—the result of nearly four decades of Warsaw Pact standardisation progarammes. In fact, even the German Luftwaffe uses the MiG-29. |
Russian and French aircraft have served Indian needs for decades. The hiccup over the MiG-21 spares apart, the Russians have been reliable suppliers. Besides, Russian aircraft are used in several European countries which even produce the spares—the result of nearly four decades of Warsaw Pact standardisation progarammes. In fact, even the German Luftwaffe uses the MiG-29.
Peter Lavoy, the director of California 's Centre for Contemporary Conflict at the Naval Postgraduate School , said the sale to Pakistan was “good for Lockheed, good for the US ”. As long as the F-16 lines continue to run in Fort Worth , it ensures a cheap and continued supply of spares to the US Air Force. “We still rely on the F-16 as the main fighter plane. The alternative was shutting down the plant,” Levoy said. The US offer was, therefore, based on domestic compulsions.
Another factor that could weigh against the F-16 is that the Pakistanis have been flying the aircraft for over 20 years now and know the strengths—and most importantly the weaknesses—of the plane. This knowledge can be easily exploited in a situation where Indian F-16s are involved in a combat.
Lastly, the Indian Air Force has been labeled the United Nations of aircraft for the wide range of aircraft used: MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguars, Su-30 MKI. Adding another aircraft of another family would simply clutter the IAF's radar screen. |
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