India reviews rival fighter bids
Source: Agencies |
November 5, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
INDIA'S Defense Ministry has begun reviewing competing bids from Eurofighter and Dassault for the purchase of 126 multi-role combat aircraft worth about US$11 billion.
Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said officials met representatives of the European competitors yesterday and are expected to take six to eight weeks to pick the winning bidder. Eurofighter is offering its Typhoon aircraft while Dassault's bid is for its Rafale.
Planes from Boeing and Lockheed Martin of the US and from Russian and Swedish makers were earlier disqualified on technical and operational grounds.
India, the world's biggest arms importer, is being wooed by major international arms manufacturers as it replaces its obsolete Soviet-era weapons.
Eighteen fighter aircraft are to be delivered in "fly away" condition within 36 months and the remaining 108 are to be built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics through technology transfers. The deal is expected to be signed before March.
The ministry's price negotiating committee will now determine the cost of the planes, their weaponry, technology transfers, warranty for the first 24 months and royalties for their licensed manufacture in India, according to Rahul Bedi, a New Delhi-based analyst for the independent Jane's Information Group.
Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said officials met representatives of the European competitors yesterday and are expected to take six to eight weeks to pick the winning bidder. Eurofighter is offering its Typhoon aircraft while Dassault's bid is for its Rafale.
Planes from Boeing and Lockheed Martin of the US and from Russian and Swedish makers were earlier disqualified on technical and operational grounds.
India, the world's biggest arms importer, is being wooed by major international arms manufacturers as it replaces its obsolete Soviet-era weapons.
Eighteen fighter aircraft are to be delivered in "fly away" condition within 36 months and the remaining 108 are to be built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics through technology transfers. The deal is expected to be signed before March.
The ministry's price negotiating committee will now determine the cost of the planes, their weaponry, technology transfers, warranty for the first 24 months and royalties for their licensed manufacture in India, according to Rahul Bedi, a New Delhi-based analyst for the independent Jane's Information Group.
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