LONDON — This seems to be the time to woo India as a defense partner. The British defense secretary, Liam Fox, was in New Delhi promoting the European fighter Typhoon as India was looking to buy 126 multi-role combat aircraft for its air force.
Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited India the week before last to push Dassault's Rafale, which is back as a contender after it was initially knocked out of the race for technical reasons last year.
The Obama administration, too, is eyeing a multibillion-dollar tender for medium multi-role combat aircraft.