U.S. Now Promoting C-17 Sales To India

 (Aviationweek) : A day after U.S. companies were shut out from the competition to secure the Medium Multi-Role iaCombat Aircraft (MMRCA) program for the Indian air force, the Obama administration is promoting the sale of Boeing’s C-17 transport to New Delhi.
The air force had short-listed the C-17 to be its new heavy-lift transport aircraft two years ago. That deal is worth about $4 billion.
“Once this over $4 billion sale is finalized, the economic impact will be felt by 30,000 American workers and 650 American suppliers located in 44 states,” says U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer. He noted that six Lockheed Martin C-130-J planes were delivered to India in February, with several more since. “These sales demonstrate all the best of American manufacturing, technology and workmanship as they have been delivered on time and under budget. We are expecting similar success with the sale of C-17 aircraft,” he adds.
India rejected bids from Boeing and Lockheed Martin for an $11 billion fighter aircraft contract, short-listing the Dassault Aviation Rafale from France and Eurofighter Typhoon for the air force’s technical selection for the 126-aircraft MMRCA program.
Meanwhile, Boeing India President Dinesh Keskar says, “There are lots of opportunities here, and our partnership with India is not just one deal. We are doing significant work with the Indian aerospace industry to develop it as a part of our offset program.”
Boeing is also looking forward to an $850 million Indian contract for Boeing 787 aircraft, the first of which would be delivered to Air India later this year.