Fighter manufacturers attempt to woo Indian government with offer packages
India's embryonic search for up to 126 new lightweight fighters captured the attention of the major manufacturers attending the Aero India air show in Bangalore last week, although firm details of the requirement remain sketchy.
The Indian government has officially sought information from four sources for the future fighter need: Dassault for the Mirage 2000-5, RSK MiG for the MiG-29 multirole combat aircraft, Saab for the Gripen, and the US government. Both Boeing, promoting the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and Lockheed Martin, offering F-16s, are providing data to the Indian authorities as part of the US government's response to the request for information (RFI).
The selected aircraft will replace the air force's upgraded MiG-21bis fighters.
Other fighter aircraft suppliers - including the companies behind the four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon - are hopeful that they will also gain an opportunity to contest the requirement.
The manufacturers say India will require that most of the fighters be assembled locally by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). Saab's director of industrial cooperation Lars-Uno Elwingsson says the Swedish company is already discussing with HAL manufacturing 108 Gripens in Bangalore plus transferring technology on avionics and engines.
"Hopefully - subject to US government approval - we'll see F-16s coming out of HAL or other Indian facilities in the future," says Lockheed Martin Aeronautics regional vice-president Dennys Plessas. "The RFI has been sent to the US government and the two governments have been in dialogue."
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems vice-president of business development for Asia-Pacific Mark Kronenberg believes India will seek a twin-engine aircraft, giving the Super Hornet an advantage.
While BAE Systems hopes to head any long-term effort to promote the Eurofighter Typhoon in India, air force chief of staff Air Marshal S P Tyagi cast doubt on the type's suitability on 10 February, describing the European system as "a very capable, but expensive aircraft".
CRAIG HOYLE & BRENDAN SOBIE / BANGALORE
Source: Flight International
