25 Sep 14. India eyes Sikorsky helicopter, other big U.S. arms buys. In a boost to U.S. weapons makers looking for ways to offset lower domestic military spending, India is expected to choose Sikorsky Aircraft’s S-70B Sea Hawk helicopters at a 16-aircraft tender worth over $1bn. The decision could come during a high-profile visit to the United States by new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that starts on Friday. The Sikorsky deal would be one of several large U.S. arms purchases by India that are nearing completion, including over $2.5bn in orders for Boeing Co’s AH-64D Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp, declined comment on the potential helicopter order. Sikorsky is expected to beat out NH Industries, a joint venture of Airbus, AgustaWestland and Fokker Aerostructures. Those deals could in turn lay the groundwork for a much larger order of 123 helicopters for the Indian Navy, said one of the sources, who was not authorized to speak publicly. Boeing continues to negotiate with India on the Apache and Chinook helicopters and hopes to have signed contracts by the end of the year, said spokeswoman Caroline Hutcheson. U.S. weapons makers, keen to offset declining U.S. and European military spending, are watching closely to see whether Modi delivers on his promises to expand India’s strategic relationship with the United States. India was the top foreign buyer of U.S. arms last year, according to defense research firm IHS Janes, and the two governments are now negotiating a series of specific defense collaboration projects that would involve more co-production. U.S. industry executives are excited about possible opportunities in India, but caution that such deals often take longer to negotiate than expected. Boeing already has a huge presence in India due to its sales of P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft and C-17 transport planes, and Modi is slated to meet Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney during his U.S. visit. Boeing is due to deliver a sixth P-8I plane to India later this year, and two more next year. India may also exercise options for four additional P-8 aircraft next year, Boeing officials said. The U.S. unit of Britain’s BAE Systems Plc (BAES.L) is also ready for talks with India about the possible sale of up to 145 of its M777 towed 155mm howitzer artillery pieces, a deal valued at up to $885m. (Source: Reuters)
25 Sep 14. Argentina focuses 2015 defence spending on upgrades and R&D. Argentina has proposed an ARS50.3bn (USD5.9bn) budget to fund its armed forces in 2015. While the budget includes funding for 102,403 air force, army, and naval personnel, capital investments comprise only ARS1.1bn (USD138m), with most of the force modernisation spending geared towards upgrades and mid-life update programmes. The budget funds 241 military personnel for the Estado Mayor Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas (the Armed Forces Joint General Staff). The Argentine Army will receive funding for 54,974 personnel, to establish Unidades Militares de Respuesta a la Emergencia (UMRE – Emergency Response Military Units), to procure 4×4 and 4×2 light vehicles, to continue modernising the TAM Main battle tank, and to upgrade the UH-1H Iroquois to Huey II standard. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
25 Sep 14. The Times of Israel on Wednesday cited a range of indicators indicating that that Hamas was at risk of a downward popularity spiral after having failed to secure any substantial gains from this summer’s war with Israel, with veteran journalist Arab affairs journalist Avi Issacharoff concluding that the terror group had emerged from Operation Protective Edge “in a significantly inferior position than it was before, due to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” Issacharoff noted most generally that Hamas had failed to secure any of the conditions – cash for its workers, a change in Israeli import restrictions, an opening of the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt – that the group had re