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India was not happy last month when the US decided to sell Pakistan F-16 fighter jets. But now, according to a report by _The Hindu, _India may be able to undercut Pakistan strategically and

manage a feather in its ‘Make in India’ cap. Lockheed Martin, the US arms manufacturer that makes the plane, has said that it is in talks with the US government, the Indian government and

Indian companies about “potential new production F-16 aircraft to address India’s fighter recapitalisation requirements.” The question for India is whether the huge cost of such a deal is

outweighed by economic and strategic implications. > For India, the calculus underlying any decision to accept Lockheed > Martin’s presumed offer, which could come as soon as April 

2016 > given that it would then coincide with the visit to India of US > Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, is complex and multi-dimensional. > In terms of economics, the principal 

concern is that the F-16 is now > in some senses going out of vogue in the developed world, and the > US’ defence production appears to be increasingly leaning towards > the far 

more advanced, stealth-capable F-35. In this context > wouldn’t it seem more prudent for the Indian Air Force to continue > relying on the Sukhoi and MiG platforms and the expected 

incoming 36 > Rafales and then cover any shortfall in capability with the > indigenous Tejas? Report in _The Hindu_ Published: 21 Mar 2016, 8:03 AM IST