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India, US closer to signing LAS, Ashton Carter visit will clear all aspects: Manohar Parrikar

By FnF Desk | PUBLISHED: 10, Apr 2016, 11:20 am IST | UPDATED: 10, Apr 2016, 11:51 am IST

India, US closer to signing LAS, Ashton Carter visit will clear all aspects: Manohar Parrikar Panaji: India and the US are moving a step closer towards finalization of the long pending logistic support agreement (LAS) for peaceful purpose and the visit of US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter to India will clear all aspects of the issue, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday.

In an interview, he told STOI that the LAS which has been in discussions for the last 12 years is expected to be signed in the next few weeks.

Carter is arriving in Goa on Sunday on an invitation by Parrikar as a follow up to his visit to the US a few months ago. Carter will also visit aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya at Karwar on Monday. The two leaders will later formally meet in Delhi.

Parrikar also said that India and the US are very close to finalizing transfer of technology under Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) for an aircraft carrier. Once the US agrees for technology transfer, they will become eligible to bid for manufacture of aircraft under the Make In India programme.

He said both manufacturers in the US and a few other competitors from Europe have the capability of offering a Naval variant for quick aircraft take off. The US and a few other countries have technology which provides for aircraft take off from Naval carriers within 40 seconds as against the present aircraft available with the Indian Navy which takes between three to four minutes for a take off.

Speaking more on the proposal for F/A-18 Super Hornets (Boeing) and on F-16s (Lockheed Martin) to be made in India, Parrikar said the US government has shared the presentation for the two proposals with the Ministry of Defence ahead of Carter's visit.

"Once these two proposals are scrutinized by our technical team, we may accept those proposals and then they would be eligible to bid for the Make in India jet fighters proposal," he added.

Parrikar said India has been evaluating other bidders such as SAAB from Sweden, Rafale multirole combat aircraft from France and Eurofighter Typhoon from the European consortium. He expressed the optimism that the Make in India jet fighter deal would be concluded by end of 2016 or early 2017.

"We may select to buy aircraft from one or two companies / countries depending on our requirement and the bulk of it will be manufactured in India. A maximum of a squadron consisting of 18 aircraft may be bought outright from the winning bidder. A total of 300 aircraft, mostly for the Indian Air force, will be manufactured over a 15-year period," Parrikar said. He also said that India is looking to also export the fighter jets after its manufacture here.

Parrikar said that he and Carter had developed a good equation because he (Carter) "is very open, frank and good natured and I somehow click with him".

"The official talks will happen on April 12 in Delhi but during the time we spend in Goa together, he would be able to discuss some issues and informally come to conclusions on many other issues," the defence minister said. He added that informal meetings do help in building confidence with international leaders. Parrikar said that India wants good relations with the US but on an equal platform but "that does not mean we will sacrifice our independence or our relations with anyone else".

On Carter's statement that the US is looking at India as part of their global agenda and not like Pakistan, Parrikar said that is the level which the country wants to achieve. Parrikar also said that he will push the US to put pressure on Pakistan to act against terrorism.

"The terrorism issue, sharing intelligence and real time intelligence on terror would be discussed during his meeting with Carter," he said. Parrikar also said that the jet engine proposal from the US, and its transfer of technology is still yet to mature.

"There are still some negotiations (on jet engine) required before we can go ahead," he added.

Carter, accompanied by Parrikar, will visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa and the Mangueshi temple on Sunday.
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