Rapid Fire 2010-11-3: Franco-British Agreement

• Entente cordial redux: UK, France ink historic defense accord that includes setting up a joint expeditionary force, shared use of aircraft carriers, cooperation on weapons procurement and logistics, and joint cybersecurity efforts.

• Aviation Week reports that global spending reviews, particularly in Europe, are having ripple effects in the global market for fighter jets.

• On the road to Bishkek: Mina and Red Star supply jet fuel to US forces in Kyrgyzstan under $3 billion contracts.

India’s Sea Harrier Shortage

Sea Harriers, F/A-18F

End of British Harrier fleet a solution for India? (Oct 31/10)

Covering a potential aircraft carrier gap isn’t India’s only naval air issue these days. In response to a March 2008 question in Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament), India’s Defence Minister Shri A K Antony said:

“The Indian Navy is facing shortage of Sea Harrier aircraft. The ongoing upgrade of Sea Harrier programme has also temporarily affected the availability of the aircraft. Contract for the limited upgrade of Sea Harrier aircraft was concluded with M/s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in March 2005 at a cost of Rs. 476.69 crore [DID: about $109.8 million at the time]. The upgrade programme is expected to be completed by 2009.”

Can India’s Sea Harriers survive as an effective force, until MiG-29Ks aboard the rebuilt INS Vikramaditya can replace them?