EXCLUSIVE! OPINION -From Russia with Love
Neelam Mathews Dec 25, 2012 Even as India signs for 42 more Sukhoi 30-MKIs which will take the total in the IAF inventory to 270 along with 100 Migs and plans to add Fifth Gen fighters, is raising eyebrows on whether the MMRCA will really take off in its present form. Maybe the French will sell us the 50 Rafales their air force cancelled? Who knows? And one wonders, who cares, except the military. Slowly but steadily, it seems pretty clear we are turning back to Russia for our arms procurement. At least it looks like that even as contracts like the MRTT and LUH lie in cold storage. We are told the kitty is empty to pay for the first installment of the MMRCA. We are also told HAL needs to be clear what it can and cannot do. We are informed Dassault wants to deal with a private partner that in turn seems to have little inclination nor the resources to tap tier 2 and 3 business which may or may not be available as yet in the country. So where do...