Boeing has been in the news recently for the two tragic airplane crashes. Hopefully they will correct the problem soon. There is other news about the company. Boeing just received delivery of the fuselage assembly for the Army Apache Attack Helicopter. It was made by Tata Corporation in India. Boeing and Lockheed are both planning to build other military aircraft in cooperation with India. Lockheed is planning to build the F16 military jet there.
There seems to be big plans for Indian military production. In 2016, the U.S. awarded India the designation of “Major Defense Partner”. This status will allow them to receive more contract work and give them more access to sensitive defense technology.
With this, Boeing is planning to build a joint factory in India to produce the Super Hornet military jet fighter. Boeing says about the project, “The programme is expected to work with several Indian suppliers to grow a thriving defense aerospace base which could accelerate other programmes. The facility will create a world class highly trained aerospace workforce.” WOW, wouldn’t that be nice to have in America?
Besides the loss of jobs, using foreign governments in this way, we are transferring our technology to another country which can use it to build more weapons for themselves and to sell to other countries. Should we collect commissions to get a return on our investment?
There is another very important issue. Are we really prepared for conflict if we rely on foreign countries and companies to supply our critical and sophisticated weapon systems.
History is replete with countries alternating between enemy and allied status. Even with good relations with India, it is now easier for an enemy to acquire our technology. It would also be easier for an enemy to create obstacles to the delivery of anything from India.
Our success in previous wars was due to our capability and control to quickly build our own products, whether weapons or otherwise, and our capacity to move them. We were so good at it that we were able to distribute all kinds of things to European allies thereby helping them win WW ll. In fact, it is unlikely the Lend Lease Act (1941) would have been effective if we had to rely on other countries to implement it.
In the big picture, these developments are reminiscent of President Eisenhower’s warning:
” A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction.
Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry…we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions.
The conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience…We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic process. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.”
January 17, 1961
The entire speech is well worth reading or viewing.
Sadly, constant warfare seems to be the reality of the world. Those unprepared suffer terribly.