The US Ambassador in India, Timothy J. Roemer has said that though the US was ‘disappointed’ on losing out on the $10 billion deal for India’s requirement of medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), the relationship between the two countries would remain strong.

The Ambassador told reporters that “Indo-US strategic relations is bigger than any one deal”. The ‘global partneship’ revolved around various areas such as security, environment, green technology and fighting poverty. “We are two partners working together for global peace, global partnership. One deal does not impact that strategic relationship,” he said.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin were in the MMRCA race till the government decided to down-select to two defence companies. “We believe that cost of F-18 and F-16 is about 70 to 80 million (dollars) a piece and the Typhoon and Rafale is around 130 million (dollars) a piece. We provided great value particularly to the taxpayers of India. We provided great technology. We have rather proven, mature and working (technology). I think the competitors have a radar system that they are trying to incorporate.”

Around the same time the down-select was announced, the US Ambassador also put in his papers citing ‘personal reasons’. He is expected to return to the US in June.