By Jim Wolf
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A split in the Pentagon over how much cutting-edge technology to share with India is complicating bids by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) for a potential $10 billion fighter jet contract.
At issue, among other things, is advanced radar know-how India wants as part of any deal for the 126 new fighter jets it plans to buy from one of six global aerospace powerhouses, say current and former Pentagon officials.
Detailed offers from all bidders are due to be submitted to the Indian defense ministry by March 3.
The contenders come from Russia, Europe and the United States. If the deal goes to Americans, it would crown a post-Cold War trend toward tighter U.S.-Indian security ties, a potential counterweight to China's growing might.
Lockheed Martin and Boeing -- the Pentagon's No. 1 and No. 2 suppliers by sales -- were invited by India for the first time to bid to supply fighters.
Lockheed Martin is proposing a version of its widely sold F-16 Fighting Falcon but has not made public any detail of which radar it will offer.
Boeing has said it is pursuing U.S. government approval to sell its F/A-18 Super Hornet "Block 2" strike attack aircraft, used by the U.S. Navy and Australia. It is equipped with what Boeing has called "ground-breaking" Raytheon Co (RTN.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
Also in the race: Russia's MiG 35, France's Dassault Rafale, Sweden's Saab AB (SAABb.ST: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) JAS-39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon, made by a consortium of British, German, Italian and Spanish companies. Continued...
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