Rajiv Gandhi was main negotiator for Swedish arms deal

by Idéfix Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:44 pm

WikiLeaks has been publishing old diplomatic cables from the 1970s. Here is a cable from the US embassy in New Delhi. It says that a Swedish official informed the US embassy that Rajiv Gandhi, then an Indian Airlines pilot who was not involved in politics, was involved in negotiations to purchase Swedish jets for the Indian Air Force.

https://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1975NEWDE14031_b.html

SWEDISH EMBOFF HAS INFORMED US THAT MAIN INDIAN NEGOTIATOR
WITH SWEDES ON VIGGEN AT NEW DELHI END HAS BEEN MRS. GANDHI'S
OLER SON, RAJIV GANDHI. LATTER'S ONLY ASSOCIATION WITH
AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY (TO OUR KNOWLEDGE) HAS BEEN AS PILOT
FOR INDIAN AIRLINES AND THIS IS FIRST TIME WE HAVE HEARD
HIS NAME AS ENTREPRENEUR.

2. SWEDISH EMBOFF SAYS THAT DASSAULT HAS SON-IN-LAW
OF INDIAN AIR MARSHALL MEHRA AS ITS CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR
MIRAGE SALE.

MRS. GANDHI (ACCORDING TO SWEDISH INFO) HAS MADE PERSONAL DECI-
SION NOT TO PURCHASE BRITISH JAGUAR BECAUSE OF HER PREJUDICES
AGAINST BRITISH. DECISION WOULD BE BETWEEN MIRAGE AND VIGGEN. THE
SWEDISH DIPLOMAT SAID THAT SWEDEN'S NEUTRAL POSITION IN WORLD POLI-
TICS IS OFFSETTING VIGGEN'S HIGHER COST. HE EXPRESSED
IRRITATION AT THE WAY MRS. GANDHI IS PERSONALLY DOMINATING NE-
GOTIATIONS, WITHOUT INVOLVEMENT OF INDIAN AIR FORCE OFFICERS.

by Idéfix Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:08 pm

Here is another cable from the US Embassy in New Delhi that addresses Rajiv Gandhi's role in the negotiations about IAF purchasing jet aircraft from Sweden: https://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1976NEWDE01909_b.html

OFFHAND
WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT A TRANSPORT PILOT NOT THE BEST EXPERT
TO RELY UPON IN EVALUATING A FIGHTER PLANE, BUT THEN WE ARE
SPEAKING OF A TRANSPORT PILOT WHO HAS ANOTHER AND PERHAPS
MORE RELEVANT QUALIFICATION.

by Propagandhi711 Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:15 pm

yeah but his italian widow has fine cred. she sacrificed her great future as a lower middle class italian maami, moved to india, gave up the seat that was her birthright, learned hindi and is a fine selfless behind the scenes kabuki theater operator. garibi hatao

by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:32 pm

Idéfix wrote:WikiLeaks has been publishing old diplomatic cables from the 1970s. Here is a cable from the US embassy in New Delhi. It says that a Swedish official informed the US embassy that Rajiv Gandhi, then an Indian Airlines pilot who was not involved in politics, was involved in negotiations to purchase Swedish jets for the Indian Air Force.

https://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1975NEWDE14031_b.html

SWEDISH EMBOFF HAS INFORMED US THAT MAIN INDIAN NEGOTIATOR
WITH SWEDES ON VIGGEN AT NEW DELHI END HAS BEEN MRS. GANDHI'S
OLER SON, RAJIV GANDHI.

2. SWEDISH EMBOFF SAYS THAT DASSAULT HAS SON-IN-LAW
OF INDIAN AIR MARSHALL MEHRA AS ITS CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR
MIRAGE SALE.

MRS. GANDHI (ACCORDING TO SWEDISH INFO) HAS MADE PERSONAL DECI-
SION NOT TO PURCHASE BRITISH JAGUAR BECAUSE OF HER PREJUDICES
AGAINST BRITISH. DECISION WOULD BE BETWEEN MIRAGE AND VIGGEN. THE
SWEDISH DIPLOMAT SAID THAT SWEDEN'S NEUTRAL POSITION IN WORLD POLI-
TICS IS OFFSETTING VIGGEN'S HIGHER COST. HE EXPRESSED
IRRITATION AT THE WAY MRS. GANDHI IS PERSONALLY DOMINATING NE-
GOTIATIONS, WITHOUT INVOLVEMENT OF INDIAN AIR FORCE OFFICERS.

******************************
okiee folks...Its UppiLeak time:

The Swedish Viggen (J - 37) was among the 3 in the running (British Jags, Mirage F1s and Swedish J-37).

The Brits "promised" Tornado (under development) once ready if Jags are chosen;
The French promised Mirage 2000 (under development) if the older F1s were chosen (Pakis had tons of F1s);
The Swedes just offered J-37

The J-37 was in the running bcz Pakis had F1s and Jags were 15 years older by then. But, US - the Paki's best pal - at that time denied permission to the Swedes to include the Computer controls and the look-down/shoot-down system along with the electronics - citing its PRINCIPLE not to arm countries in hostile region.

The Swedes were out effectively. The swedes found a way to substitute the Thomson-CSF controls (I think) but the Indians did not want the French-Swedish combo due to double dependence. Also, the French were competing for the F1s as well. This is the time the WikiLeaks is referring to (1976).

In essence, India opted for the older Jags as default and the HAL modified it (on their own) with additional over-the- pylon-missile systems.

Ok...this should be enough....

by Idéfix Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:40 pm

I thought IAF bought the Mirage 2000s eventually. Don't know if they bought any F1.

by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Wed Apr 10, 2013 2:38 pm

Idéfix wrote:I thought IAF bought the Mirage 2000s eventually. Don't know if they bought any F1.

The Mirage 2000s purchase was the story of the 90s. Mirage 2000 (French offered free upgrade to Rafale) Brit Tornado, Swedish J-39MiG 33 and if I remember right Sukhoi (XX)

India opted for M2000 (and Rafale was/is a flop) and still continues buying/upgrading - until the 5th Gen Indo-Russian fighter in 2025 replace Jags and M2000 (probably not for another 50 years).

by nevada Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:53 pm

Good, so he was not some dull recluse after all. Why should it surprise anyone that the son of a prime minister was an "entrepreneur" making use of his good connections?

by Propagandhi711 Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:56 pm

nevada wrote:Good, so he was not some dull recluse after all. Why should it surprise anyone that the son of a prime minister was an "entrepreneur" making use of his good connections?

totally agree...it's like a young guy that doesnt rape. you never know if he's a real man

by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:14 pm

Propagandhi711 wrote:
nevada wrote:Good, so he was not some dull recluse after all. Why should it surprise anyone that the son of a prime minister was an "entrepreneur" making use of his good connections?

totally agree...it's like a young guy that doesnt rape. you never know if he's a real man

The only politician that is not corrupt is Kim Jong Un.

Take your pick.

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Rajiv Gandhi was main negotiator for Swedish arms deal

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