On the other hand, Japan can help even more.

Why?

Although Japan is not a major arms exporter, it is clearly more committed than the United States in its stance of aiding India.

Quite simply, Japan needs India to contain China.

A few years ago, Japan actively participated in India's submarine bidding project, but later because the price was too high, it was actually a manufacturing scandal that broke out in the country, which made Japan miss the opportunity to obtain orders from India, and Japan did not give up its efforts to expand the market in India.

As a matter of fact, Japan has long established close cooperative relations with India in the military field.

Of course, Japan offers not finished products, but systems.

For example, some of the optoelectronic equipment used in the F-16E/F is provided by Japan, and it has a lot to do with the F-2 fighter jets used by Japan.

In addition, Japan is helping India improve the sighting system of the T-90S.

It can be seen that the cooperation between Japan and India in the military field is not so conspicuous, but it is very real.

You must know that the first to complete the modernization and improvement, using the advanced observation and sighting system produced in Japan more than 100 T-90S, was regarded as a trump card by the Indian army, deployed in the eastern region, used to fight against the armored forces of China, and was regarded by the Indian Army as the absolute main force in this direction.

Of course, what Japan can provide is mainly ground weapons.

Why?

Japan's fighters are all imported from the United States, to be precise, they have introduced production lines and produce them domestically.

Obviously, it is impossible for Japan to sell its self-produced F-35A to India because of India's needs, regardless of the feelings of the United States.

Actually, Japan does not have such qualifications.

According to the contract signed between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Loma, the F-35A produced in Japan can only be used by Japan itself, and if it is sold to the outside world, huge compensation will be paid.

At that time, India was actually interested in Japanese tanks.

As early as a few years ago, after the border confrontation with China, India sent an expedition to Japan to inspect Japanese tanks.

Japanese tanks?

That's right, it's the Japanese tank.

Why?

Through practical use, as well as participation in tank competitions held by Russia, India has long discovered that the T-90S is nowhere near as good as Russia boasts.

Improvement?

What can it be?

After looking around the world, the Indian Army finally found that it was more suitable to use Japanese tanks.

Why?

Light.

Japan's transportation conditions are much better than India's, but many bridges in Japan have the same maximum load-bearing capacity as India's, within 50 tons.

For this reason, Japan's Type 90 main battle tank was designed to be very light, and the total combat weight was controlled within 50 tons.

It can be said that the Type 90 is one of the lightest of the Western tanks.

Well, naturally, I don't have to say anything, it's definitely much better than the Russian T-90S.

Of course, the problem is also prominent.

Expensive!

The idea of the Indians is simple, that is, to buy the production patent of the Type 90 from Japan and then make it in China, so as to reduce the production price.

Obviously, this idea is naïve.

Although the Type 90 is a Japanese tank, many of the equipment comes from other countries, such as tank guns, which are produced in Japan under license from Germany.

In other words, India still has to negotiate with these countries.

The result is obvious.

Even if it can be negotiated and domestic production is realized, it will not be too cheap.

Of course, India also does not intend to purchase Type 90.

Why?

This tank has been around for more than 20 years, and it has never been improved during this period, and even if it was advanced then, it is not advanced now.

At that time, India was actually looking at the Type 10 tank.

This was the first light tank developed by Japan, and it was the light tank that India needed most at that time.

Quite simply, during the confrontation with the Chinese army, the light tanks of the Chinese army put a lot of pressure on the Indian army, and even directly affected the strategic decisions of the Indian authorities.

In addition, in the main strategic direction, the Indian army actually needs light tanks, not main battle tanks.

Why?

Whether it is in Kashmir or in the northeast, the Indian army is actually fighting in the mountains, and light tanks are obviously more suitable for mountain warfare.

Of course, the Indian authorities also take it for granted that light tanks will be cheaper.

Will it?

If it is sold by the pound, it will definitely be cheaper.

The problem is that tanks are not sold by the pound.

Both Japan and China are developing light tanks, and the purpose is also very clear, that is, to provide troops with an armored platform that can be used in complex terrain, and has stronger firepower and protection than infantry fighting vehicles, and can perform some combat missions that only tanks can perform.

At the end of the day, a light tank is still a tank.

More importantly, the opponent of light tanks is tanks, not infantry fighting vehicles.

That is to say, light tanks must consider engaging the enemy's main battle tanks, not only need to have enough firepower, but also need to use other ways to make up for the lack of protection, and there are actually two effective methods, one is to enhance maneuverability, and the other is to improve firepower.

Better maneuverability requires a better engine and a better suspension system.

For the latter, due to tonnage limitations, light tanks rarely use 120 mm and 125 mm tank guns, and mainly 105 mm tank guns.

In this way, it is necessary to make a fuss about the fire control system.

To put it simply, it is to increase the efficiency of fire strikes by increasing the hit rate.

In addition, new types of ammunition will be developed, especially armor-piercing shells, so that the 105 mm tank gun will still have enough power to penetrate the main battle tank.

As a direct result of these demands, light tanks are simply not cheap.

In fact, light tanks are more expensive than main battle tanks.

The point is that too much expensive advanced equipment, especially electronics, is used, so it is difficult to significantly reduce the cost of light tanks.

Take the Japanese Type 10, for example, with a combat weight of less than 40 tons, its offer is even higher than that of the Type 90.

In addition, the light tanks of the Huaxia are about the same.

In fact, it is precisely because of this that few countries have developed light tanks, at least the United States, Germany and Russia, which are major tank countries, do not attach importance to light tanks.

As a result, the Indians' desire to buy a cheap light tank was completely frustrated.

At that time, after several years of negotiations, India abandoned the idea of purchasing Type 10 tanks, but still did not give up the idea of buying tanks from Japan.

When the Iraqi civil war ended, India began to negotiate with Japan again.

Of course, in order to show sincerity, Japan also sent several Type 90 and Type 10 to India for testing, so that the Indian Army could understand these two tanks.

It's a pity that until the outbreak of the war, India was not able to reach an agreement with Japan.

So, will Japan supply tanks to India after India's request?