New Delhi — The prestigious $10.2 billion contract to sell India 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) will undoubtedly heat up during the forthcoming Aero-India Show 2011 in Bangalore. The main contenders for the MMRCA race will be highlighting the salient features of their aircraft in full-flight displays at the show during the second week of February.
While the main MMRCA contenders have confirmed their participation at the Aero-India show, only the Russian MiG-35 which is in the MMRCA race will not be showcasing its fighter craft. The Indian defence ministry is currently persuading the Russian contender to make its presence felt at the airshow. While the MiG-35 may not make it to the airshow, a Russian delegation is surely expected in India for Aero-India 2011.
The other five contenders for the MMRCA include Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Super Viper, Eurofighter’s Typhoon, Dassault Aviation’s Rafale and Saab’s Gripen. Barring Russia, each contender is bringing in two to three aircraft along with elaborate teams and flight simulators for displays since India will make a choice in July this year.
Meanwhile, the US has been doing its sales pitch for the two US fighters that are in the race for the MMRCA. While the US concedes that European fighters are technically brilliant, the US fighters would be a lucrative and worthy option since the US would offer greater transfer of technology and strategic support. In fact, a high-level trade mission from the US led by, the US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is expected to arrive in India to promote the US fighters. The high-level trade mission will coincide with the Aero-India 2011 airshow in Bangalore in the second week of February and will focus on intensifying Indo-US strategic ties and promote high-technology defence sales between the two nations besides promoting the two US firms for the prestigious MMRCA deal. The US presence will be the biggest with 250 official delegations at the Aero-India 2011.
The US is well aware that the ongoing tender for the MMRCA is aimed at plugging the gap in the IAF squadron level which currently stands at 29 squadrons. According to a report on MMRCA by US expert Ashley Tellis, the evident shortfall in the IAF squadron has occurred due to delays in procurements, accidents as well as obsolescence of the aircraft in the air force. While India’s neighbours are modernising their forces extensively, it is crucial for India to be equipped with modern fighters and reach the currently authorised force levels of 39.5 squadrons before 2017, the report added.
Aero India-2011 in Bangalore from February 11 to 15 will be attracting a record number of leading manufacturers, vendors and suppliers from 63 countries and over 175,000 visitors are expected. US, UK, Russia, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Singapore, Japan and Afghanistan are among the countries sending official delegations. China, Pakistan and Iran have not been invited. Earlier, China had not responded to an invite in 2009. The participating countries were short-listed by the Ministry of External Affairs. Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Singapore, Japan and Afghanistan are among the countries sending official delegations.
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