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"We evaluate the global demand for combat
aircraft in the next 20 years at around 800 units.
For Eurofighter Typhoon, we target 300 additional
export contracts, with Asia representing a substantial
part of these orders," Enzo Casolini, CEO
of Eurofighter GmbH, said in a statement issued
here on the eve of DefExpo.
"Given the developments already planned
and the further upgrades we are studying, Eurofighter
Typhoon will remain the most modern combat aircraft
available on the global market for a long time,"
Bernhard Gerwert, chairman of the supervisory
board of Eurofighter GmbH and CEO of Military
Air Systems, a business unit of EADS Defence &
Security (DS) said: "We are well positioned
in the ongoing tender for the acquisition of 126
medium multi-role combat aircraft (by the Indian
Air Force) because the Eurofighter Typhoon is
the ideal answer to the threats that India faces."
"The aircraft's outstanding operational
performance, coupled with low life-cycle costs
and a tailor-made industrial partnership offer,
make the Eurofighter Typhoon a key contender in
India's competition."
The Eurofighter Typhoon is among the six aircraft
in the fray for the IAF order.
"We are keen to phase India into the Eurofighter
programme as a true industrial partner. By co-developing
cutting edge future capabilities with us, India
could play a key role in tapping the plane's tremendous
built-in growth potential," Gerwert pointed
out.
"As a production and development partner
for future enhancements, India could also customize
the Eurofighter Typhoon to its specific requirements,"
he added.
In addition to supporting the growth of India's
indigenous defence industry, the four Eurofighter
Typhoon partner companies and their 400 suppliers
will give India access to an international sourcing
network of unparalleled scope, a Eurofighter statement
said.
They are confident to meet the 50 percent offset
obligation of the request for proposal (RFP),
the statement said, adding: On behalf of the Eurofighter
consortium, EADS Defence & Security submitted
the Eurofighter Typhoon bid and a comprehensive
offset offer to the Indian authorities in 2008.
Since then, 25 memoranda of understanding (MoUs)
were signed to enhance the industrial cooperation
with India's aerospace and defence industry.
On Monday, the day DEFEXPO 2010 begins here,
aircraft of the German Air Force will take off
from Germany for Bangalore, where the Indian Air
Force will examine the Eurofighter Typhoon in
the MMRCA field evaluation programme. Until March,
trials will also be conducted in Jaisalmer and
Leh. There, the combat aircraft will demonstrate
its desert and high altitude performance.
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