Eurofighter Typhoon Vs Dassault Rafale in India's $10.4-billion combat jet tender Hot

It is now virtually an all-European battle for India's $10.4-billion order for 126 combat jets with the US and Russia almost out of the race after the defence ministry Wednesday asked EADS and Dassault to extend the validity of their commercial bids.

With this indirect down select, it is almost clear that American majors Boeing and Lockheed Martin have not made the cut and neither have Sweden's SAAB and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) in the tender for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF), described as the "mother of all defence deals".

An official announcement in this regard is expected Thursday from the defence ministry, an official told IANS.

EADS has offered its Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault the Rafale for the tender issued in August 2007. Boeing had pitted the F/A-18, Lockheed Martin the F-16, UAC the MiG-35 and SAAB the Gripen against the two fighter jets that are now deemed to have cleared the technical evaluation completed by the IAF last March.

The commercial bids for the contract were to expire Thursday and had to be extended by the competing vendors on a request from the defence ministry.

"It (the down select) is not official yet. An announcement is likely to be made Thursday," the official said, when asked if EADS and Dassault are the only two firms to have been asked to extend the validity of their commercial bids.

The four-year contest for the Indian contract was hard fought by all the six vendors with "aggressive marketing" by them.

Except for EADS and UAC, all the other firms had offered and allowed joy rides by Indian politicians, movie stars and journalists during the biennial AeroIndia show held in February at Yelahanka air base in Bangalore in 2009 and 2011.

The tendering process itself was threatened earlier this year after the offset plans of the six firms went missing after a bureaucrat in the defence ministry lost the file while carrying it home and was later found on the roadside in south Delhi within a few hours.

A probe held by the defence ministry indicted the bureaucrat, but concluded that tender was not compromised by the official's lapse and decided to complete the process.

The deal, to be finalised this fiscal, will fetch India $5 billion investment in the form of 50 percent offsets, a clause that mandates the winning firm to plough back half the deal's worth to energise the Indian defence industry.

While the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, had pressed for the deal to be finalised by July this year, when his tenure ends, Defence Minister A.K. Antony had said during the AeroIndia show in February that the contract would be awarded before March 2012.

On Monday, Antony had also warned the army and air force top brass in their conferences being held here to be wary of "corrupt practices by vested interests in the garb of aggressive marketing" in some of the major defence deals that India was to sign this year, including the combat jet contract.

India has earmarked Rs.69,199 crore ($15 billion) for capital expenditure in the defence budget for 2011-12 in view of the major defence deals to be clinched this fiscal.

Comparison:

MIG-35

Lack of thrust provided by MIG engine , old technology and nothing new offered couldn't make it feasible for IAF.

F-16

This is plane of 70`s with no future left. US is selling to allies the old technology as USAF still all set to dump this piece so there is no way IAF can choose this old technology.

From Fighter Planes

F-18

Still not that old fighter but when USAF itself planning to set aside the plane and believed to best for NAVY. As India is looking IAF not for INA so this choice makes it unfeasible. Though Boeing is upgrading its old plane and showing it most advanced planes but still they are old as we have seen with F-15 silent and F-18 super hornet. And when country is looking into future then better to go for operational ones.

From Fighter Planes

Gripen

Gripen was once the front runner because of Swedish technology , low cost and TOT. But its GE engine was one of the biggest problem and there would be bigger threat of US retaliation in future. Another problem was gripen didn't bring NG the most advanced plane for the test thus lacked here and then gripen is 1 engine plane and IAF believes 2 engine plane as better fighter.

From Weapons and technology

Rafale

Emerged as front runner for biggest IAF tender and french are looking as biggest opportunity as they were not able to make any big deal for this plane which is believed to be the best out there in air. With supersonic cruise , stealth , french avionics and better operationbilty for both IAF and INA. Another big reason is familiarity of IAF with french technology. But it is believed that french engine lacks thrust and its avionic and radars are still in the research process. The cost could be other factor , which is definitely highest of all.

From Fighter Planes

Eurofighter

This is new fighter from EADS with best technology and avionics from 4 EU countries. This fighter is operational not only in the designated countries but recently got from UAE also and betting more from bigger markets. The avionics is considered best expect the 5G fighters and believed to be better than Russian as EADS claims but lacks vector thrust. Price is expensive but lacks stealth as its counterpart Rafale but still not have operational fighters for Navy.

From Weapons and technology

Now have to wait for Govt of India who will decide better one and leaving there past bad expericences in this field.