MRCA RFPs before CCS, likely to be issued in 2 mths: MOS Def Prod

By Staff
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Gurgaon, Aug 11 (UNI) The Request for Proposals (RFPs) for 126 multi-role combat aircraft to bolster the force levels of the Indian Air Force will take two more months to be issued, Minister of State for Defence Production Rao Inderjit Singh today said.

''The issuance (of the RFPs) is awaiting the clearence of Cabinet Committee on Security. It has taken some time to happen because it is the first time India is going in for a global tender involving almost all the major arms players,'' he said.

We wanted the entire process to be transparent and suitable to the needs of IAF, the Minister said, adding that a ''lot of application of mind'' had gone into the process.

''Finally, the model has been worked out,'' Mr Singh said.

Top aerospace companies from the US and Europe are vying for the order. The IAF had sought Request for Information (RFI) from the US' Lockheed Martin (F-16) and Boeing (F-18), Russia's MiG Corporation (MiG-35), France's Dassault Aviation (Mirage, subsequently the Rafale as the production of the former had ceased) and the Swedish Saab (Gripen JAS-39). The Eurofighter Typhoon was a new entry to the contest.

The RFPs, expected for the last year and half, were delayed time and again. According to sources, the major delay was occasioned by incorporating the relevant clauses of the Defence Procurement Policy-2006, postulating a 30 per cent offset requirement in any major arms deal.

UNI

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