TIME has a piece on the US trying to get a piece of India's military action.
As you can see, even Lockheed Martin hopes to sell India on F-16IN (.pdf)
The joint-venture manufacturing prospects do have their appeal, along with the associated technology transfer. However, I think it would be helpful if the US winds down its fighter sales to Pak.
It seems that Pak itself may help in this regard, as their latest electoral verdict was a vote against Musharraf and the War on Terror. With Uncle Sam's war likely to be the main casualty of this latest poll showing, along with flunky Musharraf, then the US may have no choice but to start pulling the strings of military aid to Pak. However strong Washington's myopia is towards Pak, the fact remains that you can't duck reality for long, as it will certainly catch up with you.
In Pak's case, the true nature of the populace is asserting itself, refusing to remain conveniently in the closet.
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Excerpt from Gates in India to push US firms (Tuesday, 26 February 2008)
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has arrived in Delhi on a two-day visit aimed at bolstering military ties and promoting US arms manufacturers.
US firms are competing with Russian and European rivals for a multi-billion dollar deal to sell India fighter jets.
Mr Gates has said he wants to "expand" India's "significantly improved relationship" with the US. India has largely relied on Russian arms imports.
India meanwhile says it successfully tested a new type of ballistic missile.
The nuclear-capable missile was launched from an underwater platform off the south-eastern coast of India, a defence ministry official told the AFP news agency.
The new missile is expected to serve a nuclear submarine being built by India.
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