New Delhi. European Aerospace and Defence conglomerate EADS has advanced a winning strategy to acquire the $ 10 billion-plus order for 126 Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) from India.

Mr Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of EADS MAS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company Military Air Systems) that manufactures the Eurofighter Typhoon, told India Strategic during a recent interview here that there was a certain comfort level between India and the European countries and that the European consortium producing the Euofighter was willing to share very high levels of technology.

If India decides to buy this highly modern and futuristic aircraft, then it would be the fifth production base for the Eurofighter along with Germany, Spain, Italy and Britain.

“And on equal basis,” he emphasized.

“India is our partner of choice and we are interested in long-lasting political, industrial and military relations that will be based on a win-win situation,” Mr Gerwert said after making a media presentation on the Eurofighter campaign.

“As a fast growing and dynamic country, India is not only regarded as a market but most importantly as a partner for joint industrial and military projects in the future.”

Asked about the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar that the Indian Air Force (IAF) wants, Mr Gerwert said that it was under development and the best available technology would be given to India as it evolves.

“The Eurofighter is a mature and stable aircraft of today with futuristic development potential and it can fly air-to-air and air-to-ground missions in hostile electronic warfare environment as a true multi-role fighter.”

Gerwert underlined that four nations, four air forces and the four leading European aerospace companies EADS, EADS Casa, BAE Systems and Alenia Finmeccanica fully support the Eurofighter campaign in India. Gerwert said: “We have a strong and committed international team and we will make sure that Eurofighter will be a major player in a fair and transparent competition.”

It may be noted that IAF’s Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal F H Major told India Strategic in an interview that “ the thrust of the IAF was to induct the best in technology.”

Eurofighter is locked with Lockheed Martin F-16, Boeing F-18 Super Hornet, Swedish Gripen, Russian Mig-35 and French Rafale in the contest to supply the MRCAs. The actual value of the contract is likely to go much higher because of a reported clause for 50 per cent options – meaning 63 more aircraft – and periodic mission upgrades over the 40 years of the stipulated lives of the combat jets.

All these aircraft manufacturers submitted their bids on April 28, the last date under the Request for Proposals (RfP), or tender, and in accordance with the Defence Procurement Policy (DPP) 2006 which has mandated 50 per cent offsets and Transfer of Technology (ToT). Some of the terms of this procurement policy are likely to be liberalized however in the coming DPP 2008, which is in the last stages of being fine-tuned before likely release any time over the next couple of months.

As for the Eurofighter, its campaign director Matthias Schmidlin told the conference: “We are inviting India to become a partner for the further development of the Typhoon.

“Exports to third countries from India would be the logical outcome of this partnership,” he pointed out adding: “What we are offering you is today’s technology.”

Mr Gerwert pointed out that EADS was already involved in space and helicopter programmes of India, and that in February this year, EADS Defence & Security, of which EADS MAS is an integral part, had signed an agreement with the Tata Group for the Indian Army’s $1 billion order for a tactical communications system.