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Our Bureau

New Delhi, April 28 The process for acquiring 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force at an estimated cost of Rs 42,000 crore began on Monday with the Government receiving bids from the six short-listed vendors.

“The bids have been received and are being examined,” official sources told Business Line. The six shortlisted vendors include the Russian MIG-35 (RAC MiG), Swedish JAS-39 (Gripen), the French Dassault Rafale, American F-16 Falcon (Lockheed Martin), Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon.

After delivering the 20,000-page bid document to the Defence Ministry, the Campaign Director, Gripen India, Mr Eddy de la Motte, said the Swedish company was offering the next generation aircraft unveiled last Wednesday.

“If selected, the company will be able to offer the first aircraft within 36 months of the contract being signed. As required we will submit the offset proposal by the first week of August,” he said. Boeing has also said that the supply of the first advanced F/A 18E/F Super Hornet can begin about 36 months after the contract is awarded.

Late last week, Boeing Company announced that it has delivered a 7,000-page proposal offering the advanced Super Hornet, while the European consortium, EADS, announced that not only was it offering the Typhoon aircraft but also invited India to become a partner in the Eurofighter programme.

The terms of purchase stipulate that the first 18 aircraft will come in a ‘fly away’ condition while the remaining 108 will be manufactured under Transfer of Technology. The vendor finally selected would also be required to undertake 50 per cent offset obligations here.

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Govt receives bids from six vendors for 126 jet aircraft

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