Russia to be contender for 126 fighters, says Tyagi

Moscow, June 1: Russia will be one of the contenders for an upcoming multi-billion dollar tender for 126 fighters, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi said here.

Air Chief Marshal Tyagi, currently on a week-long visit to Russia, watched the demonstration flight of MiG-35 (MiG-29M2) at a Russian air base, outside the capital.

''You have to be satisfied before buying the aircraft, he said, adding that they are not buying a plane for demonstration. ''There are many things I have to decide before going for a particular plane, because I buy a machine to fight and win a war not to lose it''.

Demonstration might be very brilliant but that is not enough for arriving at a decision to buy the aircraft, tha Air Chief.

So, many things will have to be examined before arriving at a decision to buy a particular plane, comparing it also with other planes and taking into account the life-cycle cost or ownership cost, he said.

But, Russia will be one of the contenders for the 126 fighters and we will soon be sending Request for Proposal (RFP) to Russia, he stressed, pointing out that very soon the tenders will be invited.

During his stay here the Air Chief also visited Sukhoi Design Bureau, Illyushin Design Bureau and Rosoboronexport, the main Russian arms exports agency, to discuss the wide-ranging military cooperation at the highest level and sort out some of the issues that are of Indian concern.

Denying media reports that India might buy an unspecified number of fighters both from Russia and the US, he said all the 126 fighters would be bought from a single vendor.

Besides, Russian MiG-35, US F-16 and F-18, the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen and the French Mirage-2000 are the main contenders for the fighters.

UNI