> FRIENDSHIP ON THE FRONT LINE PRESIDENT’S DAY OUT Trump to sign arms deal PHOTOS: PTI & REUTERS worth $3 billion today

AJAI SHUKLA well past their retirement dates. Navy will initiate another procurement to build New Delhi, 24 February The Romeo provides its parent warship 99 more in under the strategic partner with greatly enhanced anti-submarine (SP) programme. This will involve selecting a isiting US President , warfare capability. Its dunking sonar detects private Indian company as SP, which would addressing a cheering throng of enemy submarines, which are then sunk with then partner a foreign vendor to manufacture V over 100,000 people in ’s its formidable on-board torpedoes. Also, the the equipment in India. With 24 Romeos Motera Stadium soon after landing in India chopper can patrol a vast expanse of ocean already in the fleet, Sikorsky would be in pole on Monday, talked up US-India defence and destroy enemy ships with air-to-surface position in any competitive procurement to build cooperation and pitched to sell India “some missiles. The Romeo can also fly naval more naval helicopters in India. of the best, most feared, military equipment on commandos to enemy shores, landing them However, Make In India would cost some the planet”. there with covering fire from 50 per cent more than buying off “We make the greatest weapons ever made its on-board machine guns. the shelf, since it would involve — aeroplanes, rockets, ships, missiles. We The Romeo’s versatility, “I AM PLEASED TO setting up a new factory after make the best and we are dealing now with large weapons payload, and ANNOUNCE THAT obtaining a manufacturing India,” said Trump. sophisticated avionics have TOMORROW licence from the original vendor, “I am pleased to announce that tomorrow earned it the nicknames of creating an ecosystem of Tier-1, (Tuesday) our representatives will sign deals ‘flying frigate’ and ‘Swiss army (TUESDAY) OUR Tier-2, and Tier-3 sub-vendors, 1 to sell over $3 billion in the absolute, finest, knife of naval choppers’. REPRESENTATIVES training workers, and creating a state-of-the-art helicopters and other While Tuesday will witness WILL SIGN DEALS TO testing and licensing ecosystem. equipment to the Indian armed forces,” said the signing of a contract for New Delhi and Washington are the US President on Monday. just 24 helicopters — insuffi- SELL OVER $3 BILLION also keen to complete the signing Washington has already logged $15-18 billion cient to equip even the Navy’s IN THE ABSOLUTE, of a contract for six AH-64E in defence sales to India over the preceding current warships — the FINEST, STATE-OF- Apache attack helicopters, for an decade, including C-130J Super Hercules and requirement is actually for 123 estimated $930 million. The 2 C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, P-8I such helicopters. After buying THE-ART HELICOPTERS Indian Air Force (IAF) has already Poseidon long-range maritime aircraft, M777 the current 24 off the shelf, the AND OTHER contracted for 22 Apaches, deliv- ultralight howitzers and CH-47F Chinook and EQUIPMENT TO THE ery of which will be completed this AH-64E Apache helicopters. With equipment year. Now all further Apaches worth billions more in the pipeline, Trump stat- INDIAN ARMED contracted will equip the Army’s ed confidently: “I believe the United States FORCES” mechanised strike corps. 3 should be India’s premier defence partner and DONALD TRUMP Also in the pipeline, but that’s the way it’s working out.” US President unlikely to be signed on On the agenda on Tuesday, say US and Tuesday, is an Indian procure- 4 Indian official sources, is the ment of about 30 high-altitude signature of a $2.6 billion contract long-endurance, remotely piloted vehicles, of for the supply to India of 24 the Sea Guardian category. This tri-services Sikorsky NH-60R (popularly procurement is likely to cost about called Romeo) naval multi-role $3 billion. helicopters, worth an estimat- The biggest and most lucrative tender, ed $2.6 billion. however, is the IAF’s ongoing tender for The Romeo is badly 114 medium fighters, which would cost 1 . Folk artistes perform needed, say naval plan- $15-20 billion. Two American firms are in the as Prime Minister ners, to operate off Indian running for that contract: Boeing, with its frigates, destroyers, and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and Lockheed welcomes US President aircraft carriers. The Martin which has offered the Donald Trump and Navy’s dozen-odd Sea F-21 fighter — a renamed First Lady Melania King helicopters are version of the F-16 Block 70. Trump on their arrival at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport SIDELIGHTS VOICES 2. Modi greets Trump 3. Sabarmati Ashram’s visitor’s book signed 5 ‘MAN OF THE MATCH’ TRUMP Manmohan and by Trump and Melania Azad not to 4. Trump, with First STRIKES CHORD WITH CROWD Lady Melania, and PM Modi at The renovated Motera Stadium is yet to host its first attend banquet Gandhi Ashram cricket match, but on Monday the sprawling facility for Trump became the site of a public spectacle where US President 5. Modi, Trump, and Donald Trump showered encomiums on Prime Former prime minister Melania arrive for Namaste Minister Narendra Modi amid a rather delirious crowd. Manmohan Singh and leader Trump The jam-packed arena, also known as Sardar Patel of Opposition in the Rajya event at Sardar Patel Stadium Stadium, frequently broke into applause as people Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, displayed enthusiasm for the first visit by any US both senior Congress leaders, 6. Trump and Melania president to the home state of Modi. Trump’s praise for will not attend the official “THE US AND INDIA ARE THE TWO tour the India, his denouncing of the menace of terrorism, and banquet being hosted by LARGEST DEMOCRACIES IN THE WORLD 7. Air Force One his try at Hindi during his over 25-minute-long speech President carrying Trump and was well received by people and punctuated by constant in honour of US President AND SHARE MANY VALUES. THERE Melania departs from clapping by the over 100,000-strong crowd. PTI Donald Trump in the IS MUCH TO BE GAINED BY THE Ahmedabad to national Capital on Tuesday. FRIENDSHIP OF MODI AND TRUMP” Singh and Azad will not attend as Rashtrapati Bhavan NIKKI HALEY Tata Steel major supplier of has not invited Congress Former US Ambassador to the UN rebars to Motera stadium interim president Sonia Gandhi to the banquet, Tata Steel said three-fourths of the steel rebars supplied Congress sources said. to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Motera came Singh had earlier from the steel producer. The world’s largest cricket accepted the invite but on 6 stadium was built with Tata Tiscon rebars. Of the 11,000 Monday expressed his tonnes of rebars provided, 8,400 tonnes was supplied in inability to attend it. He has the cut and bend form, besides supply of 41,000 pieces conveyed his regret to the of couplers and 84,000 threads. ADITI DIVEKAR President’s office for not being able to attend the banquet, sources close to Singh said. Azad had earlier Pradhan, US energy secretary declined the invite as Sonia discuss strategic partnership Gandhi has not been invited. It has been customary for US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette and Union Rashtrapati Bhavan to invite “TO USE PRESIDENT TRUMP’S Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan co- former prime ministers, FAVOURED ADJECTIVE, THIS IS A HUGE chaired the US-India Energy Cooperation Roundtable to leaders of the two Houses of OPPORTUNITY. WE ALL KNOW TOURISM review strategic partnership in the energy sector. It was Parliament and leaders of the 7 attended by the US and Indian energy firms. “Had a Opposition to the banquet CAN BE A MAJOR ENGINE FOR productive engagement with players from the US and hosted in honour of a visiting SPURRING GROWTH, EMPLOYMENT, India to advance energy security with the objective of head of state or government. AND FOREX” achieving energy justice,” said Pradhan. BS REPORTER ARCHIS MOHAN ANAND MAHINDRA Chairman, Mahindra Group