Wednesday, May 23, 2012 1:49 PM IST

IAF shortlists Rafale, Typhoon for jets

Last Updated : 28 Apr 2011 08:56:53 AM IST

NEW DELHI: The $10-billion race for selling 126 medium multi-role combat jets to the Indian Air Force has narrowed down to two European contenders.

It is learnt that French fighter Rafale, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, and the European Consortium’s Eurofighter Typhoon have been short-listed out of the six contenders by the Ministry of Defence which is likely to announce the decision tomorrow.

The shortlist has been prepared just ahead of the end of deadline for the commercial bids expiring tonight. Once shortlisted, the MoD will now open price negotiations with the lowest bidder. So the years of suspense over one of the biggest fighter aircraft deals in the world would finally be over.

The two French contenders appear to have knocked out stiff competition from the US from where two companies - Boeing and Lockheed Martin - had made an aggressive marketing bid.

Topics:

IAF,

defence contracts,

Rafale,

Typhoon

Comments

due to the delay it is best to buy 500 aircraft so each companies product would be fully understood for next purchase

By hemanth kumar
4/28/2011 11:30:00 AM

It is highly laudable that the MoD has ruled against the US fighters. Both are aging, the F/A 18 is already marked for replacement and the F-16 has reached the limit of its capacity. Further the F/A 18 is also burdened with poor air superiority capability because it was never meant for that role. Given the enormous pressure on the USAF and USN to get rid of their inventory, the ulterior motives of the US in getting control over our offensive capabilities and their history of hamstringing their customers by not providing arms at critical times and sometimes even refusing to deliver goods paid for, it is very sensible in having opted away from these ticking time bombs. EADS is a consortium of companies and so even if one is not willing to sell us components, we may yet be able to persuade others into helping us. Further the Eurofighter Typhoon is really the best in the 4+ generation fighters with its Mach 2 manoeuvring abilities. However three of the six companies in the consortium ar

By V T Damodaran
4/28/2011 10:11:00 AM

Post your comments *

Email *

Name *

Verification Code *

Note: Comments may be moderated by our editors.

Site Web

Photo Gallery

Hampi Express rams in goods train; 25 dead

More Galleries...