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Reliable sources told
India Strategic that most likely,
the tender should be opened on November 4.
Representatives of the two finalists in the fray,
French Rafale International and European consortium
Cassidian Eurofighter would be invited and their
own bids, submitted earlier, would be opened in
their presence. Senior officials of the Ministry
of Defence (MoD) officials would be present on
the occasion.
India had floated the tender for what it called
Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) in 2007
to replace the ageing Soviet vintage aircraft
of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Four other competitors,
US Lockheed Martin F 16 and Boeing Super Hornet
F/A 18, Russian Mig 35 and Swedish Saab Gripen
did not make it in the technical flight and weapon
evaluation tests.
IAF sources have said that all the aircraft were
good but that it was a question of scoring maximum
points in the evaluation trials mandated by the
Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQRs). And
the Eurofighter and Rafale got the maximum point.
Notably, the lower bid in the tender may not
determine the winner unless there is a substantial
difference in the offering made by the two European
companies.
There would be associated costs in terms of spares
and support over two years as part of the tender
as well as for maintaining the aircraft over a
lifetime of 6000 hours of flying or 40 years.
Transfer of Technology and offsets to the extent
of 50 percent of the final costs would also be
taken into consideration.
It should take a couple of months to declare
the winner, sources told
India Strategic.
The cost of the jet deal could range above US$
15 billion, depending upon the numbers
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