Many moving parts. So, let me try ................ All the following is IMHO. Because it is specific to the AMCA, will leave it in this thread.
As we have discussed a few months ago, for EE version, someone needs to bankroll the development/Certification phase where GE will put together all the things which according to brar_w would be $0.5~1B dollar. USN doesn't seem to be in the mood. For India, its too much to pay for. A single engine costs about $3-4mil. So you can imagine how significant is that cost of $1B (=300 engines)
It was then, and even perhaps now, it is too premature to consider funding, leave alone *any* US entity who may or may not fund such an effort.
Here is what know (my data points that I use to help me track and predict), not in any order:
* Two years ago (nearly to the day?) as part of a (near dead?) DTTI process, India requested two major assistance from the US - which resulted in two "Working Group" (Jet engine and Carrier)
* IF that is true, then there is some form of work share between the two nations
* Both have met about 4/5 times over the past two years
* As far as I know the "Jet Engine" was related to uprating the F414 INS6, specifically, from
98 kN to 110 kN. Since only India is expected to use the INS6 I find it hard to believe anyone else would be interested in funding this uprating (which is the second part of my statement above)
* The US DoD has always been interested in a "Brahmos" type of a deal with India. The "Jet Engine" was proposed, by India, under that umbrella. I am not familiar with the Brahmos internals, but, *I assumed* it to be some sort of a split of funds and IP. But this is nebulous and I think it is not worth talking about right now
* What is of value is:
** The US did change their internals. During the previous trip by Parrikar, the US announced that India can access techs that India was not allowed to until then
** (As an aside, the change in internals is a very, very big deal. They had to coopt the DoS and Kerry a Pakistan supporter and India hater
** The US then went on to make some noise in the Congress about Strategic Partner
** Last Dec the two met at Wright-Patt, when "hot section" bubbled up. I guess that is the tech that India was chasing and the one US decided India to access
* The link to F-16 was from an Indian source - not a US one. However, it did surface just around when it looked like the DoD agreed to make changes to their (or more likely DoS) approval list. There was some noise on the amount of air crafts (Modi said 200-300?)
* A report that Modi was close to an agreement (on his last trip)
So, I have not followed any posts on USN funding, etc - much of what you posted. To me it just does not apply. At the same time, I agree, that the issue of funding this is unresolved, but which is why I think it is too premature.
On the flip side, I wonder if India would get that kind of tech (that India asked for) even if India invested a $1 billion anywhere else. Leave alone within India. Considering India does have access to Russian and French resources, the Indian request went first to Obama (on his Indian trip). Not Carter. Not GE.
Another interesting point: While india opted to work with the INS6, India opted to go with a Russian company for the TVC - for the very same engine!!!!!!!! So far.
Whats in it for GE if PW gets to supply F16 engines?? GE anyway would do local assembly given enough orders. But to extract some serious ToT from them, means we need to sweeten the deal for them over and above mere orders for F414.
Or we could go for PW. PW engine for F16 and F119 for AMCA.
Since India asked for engine techs, I just do not see the worth of a question like "What is in it for GE?" I do not know, but the closest I can think of was what was in it for Russia in the Brahmos deal? That just *may* provide an answer.
From the chatter I *think* the two have come to some sort of an agreement (on the engine hot section + the F-16). IMHO, all that is remaining is a dog and pony show to accommodate the Indian procedures.
I expect a resolution by this year end. A 90 mt EMALS, it seems, is nailed down. Carrier, I do not know, but do not expect much - the Vishal is already past the drawing board as far as I can tell. Unless they go the nuclear route, then it is a diff story.