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Updated Monday, March 24, 2008 0:00 am TWN, By P. Parameswaran, AFP

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U.S., Russia, China competing to sell fighter jets in Asia

The United States is also vying with Russia and others for a US$12 billion contract to sell 126 fourth generation fighter jets to the Indian air force.

The competition from Russia could prod the Americans to lift an export ban on F-22s, eyed by Australia and Japan, top U.S. allies in the region, experts said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates hinted during a recent Australian visit that Congress may be asked to reconsider the ban.

“It is imperative that the United States consider selling some version of the F-22 to maintain a strong deterrent posture in Asia,” Fisher said.

“I would say categorically that Japan requires a capability of the level of the F-22 in order to sustain a sufficient position to deter China,” he said.

Japan and another key U.S. ally, South Korea, have indigenous fifth generation fighter programs but their transition to full scale development is uncertain.

Australia is also in the midst of a debate over the future of its fighter force.

Canberra recently said it would go ahead with the previous government’s decision to acquire 24 U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets for US$5.6 billion.

It also may review whether to purchase all of the F-35s the previous government committed to, or include F-22s in the package as well, experts said.

“There is a considerable private lobby and even some bipartisan interest in trying to purchase the F-22 because of fear of Russian sales to Southeast Asia and China’s looming challenge,” Fischer said.

Singapore, with one of the most powerful air forces in the region, is seen as probably a good potential customer for the F-35s.

The U.S.-Russia competition for the fourth generation fighters is expected to be intense — but China is emerging as a wild card.

“I would say within the next five years, China will be quite competitive at the low cost end of the fourth generation market,” Fisher said.

Pakistan, for example, is co-developing a very low cost fourth generation FC-1 fighter with China and is very likely going to be the first export customer for China’s larger J-10 fighter as well, experts said.

China is expected to “market aggressively” to Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar the same two fighters as well as the KJ-200 AWACS aircraft to the Southeast Asian region, Fisher said.

Malaysia and Indonesia have purchased a relatively small number of advanced Russian Sukhoi fighters.

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