No info on scrapping deal on buying BSF plane: Airbus Military

New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) With the Home Ministry likely toscrap a deal for procuring two transport planes for the BorderSecurity Force, Airbus Military - one of the contenders in thetender, today said it has not been informed about any suchstep to be taken by the Government.

The Ministry is contemplating re-issuing the tender afterBSF officials alleged that their signatures were forged by IAFofficials on the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) reportfor contract.

"We have not heard about any such thing... we can tell youthat our C-295 aircraft has undergone trials for the last oneyear and is fully compliant with the BSF requirements,"Airbus Military''s Communication Barbara Kracht told reportershere.

After the incident came into light, the Indian Air Force,which assists the Home Ministry in procuring aerial assets,ordered a Court of Inquiry (CoI) to verify the allegationslevelled by BSF officers.

Commenting on media reports suggesting that Airbus hadmodified its aircraft during the trials, Airbus Military''sDidier Vermett said, "All these reports are false."

Asked about its participation in mid-air refuelling tankeraircraft deal of the IAF, Vermett said, "We have alreadysubmitted our bid for the tender."

The tender has been re-issued after the Finance Ministryrejected IAF''s selection of the Airbus A330 MRTT over theRussian IL-78 for being too expensive and compelled the IAF tostart again.

As per the procurement rules, if more than one equipmentmeets the requirements stated by the Defence Ministry, the onewith the lowest cost is to be selected.

India is planning to add six more tanker aircraft in itsfleet of six Russian-origin Ilyushin-78 aircraft.