The Intelligence group Stratfor seems to think so...
From Yahoo News India:
Gates likely to offer USS Kitty Hawk to India: Stratfor
Wed, Feb 27 01:25 PM
Washington, Feb 27 (ANI): US Defence [sic] Secretary Robert Gates, who is currently on a two-day visit to India, is likely to offer the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk to New Delhi, the Texas-based private intelligence group Stratfor has said in a report.
Stratfor says that this rumour [sic] is persistent and widespread, though the Defence [sic] Department has strongly denied that it is likely to offer USS Kitty Hawk, to be delivered when it is retired from the fleet in 2012.
However, if the reports turn out to be true, such an offer would be an interesting and potentially effective US move, it added.
This would place the United States and Russia in competition with each other over India. In 2004, the Russia and India signed a deal under which New Delhi would acquire the Russian carrier Admiral Gorshkov for 1.5 billion dollars.
If the rumours [sic] about the US decision to offer the Kitty Hawk to India are true, the move clearly is designed to block the sale of the Gorshkov. An American and a Russian carrier in one fleet would create substantial problems for the Indians. [MORE...]
It certainly wouldn't be the first time the United States has sold surplus ships (including aircraft carries) to foreign countries, but it would be the largest acreage of steel ever offered.
Thoughts? Add to Comments Below...
(And yes the above image was modified! Before any one thinks to give the CO of Kitty Hawk any grief! -- Ed.)
they can't give away the Kitty Hawk! my dad served on that ship!
Posted by: scott | January 04, 2012 at 09:16