Aviation majors queue up at IAF's doorsteps

With the government about to issue global tenders for acquisition of 126 multi-role combat aircraft, more players, including Europe's new generation Eurofighter, are entering the bid for a contract estimated to be in the range of about $8-10 billion.

"The Typhoon-Eurofighter will bid for the Indian Air Force's tender," Malcom Haworth Director of UK-based Export Services Organisation told reporters in New Delhi [ Images ] on Monday.

Indian Air Force eyes 126 new aircraft

The Indian deal is already acquiring stiff competitive dimensions with five major aviation giants throwing in their bid, including US' Lockheed-Martin and Boeing, French Dassault, Swedish Gripen and Russian MIG.

With India's major armament exhibition Defense-Expo 06 opening on Tuesday with accent on land and naval systems, major aviation companies are also waving their flags.

Lockheed-Martin top executive Robert H Trice on Monday said executives from his companies will be meeting their Indian counterparts during the Expo to line up strategic partnerships, including transfer of technology to support Indian priorities as well as look for avenues for exports of joint products in the region and in the global sphere.

The British executive also indicated that besides making the pitch for Typhoon fighters, UK was also looking for major naval contracts on mine-counter majors, artillery systems besides the sale of Merlon 101 helicopters, which has been developed jointly with the US Lockheed Martin.

Haworth said British companies were also bidding for smaller contracts for various land warfare systems and specialised items like nuclear shelters. "They may not be high profile items but the sheer quantity of demand makes their sale and services highly lucrative," he said.

On the offer of Typhoon, the British executive said that though the Eurofighter had not taken part in the Indian government's Request For Information, they were keen to bid for their fighters, which are expected to roll out by next year, if they were allowed to participate in the tenders.

On whether there would be any hiccups in the Indo-US tie-ups in high technology, the Lockheed-Martin Vice President Bob Trice said the recent trend in relations between Washington and New Delhi indicated that the US government and Congress would have no objections to transfer of high technology items.

On the offsets being made mandatory in new contracts by the Defence Ministry, Trice said Lockheed Martin was looking at major Indian companies like BHEL and HAL for long-term strategic partnership.

"We are getting a better understanding of the policy which is being evolved," he said, asking Lockheed Martin to tailor its offer to 'make economic and military sense.'

Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry is working towards smoothening the licence process for products offered by various companies. "We have set up a committee to select champions among the Indian industry. The idea behind this exercise is to have a list ready of companies with a good track record," Defense Production Secretary K P Singh said.