India looks at European finalists for MMRCA - Announcement on April 28?

Neelam Mathews

April 27, 2011

Time: 8:17 PM IST

The Ministry of Defense is believed to have shortlisted two vendors- Dassault Aviation Rafale and Cassidian’s Eurofighter – for the Indian Air Force 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft bid.

It is not clear how geo-politics will play a part as far as Boeing’s F/A/18 goes. India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is also expected to meet on April 28 to clear the around $5.5billion order for ten C-17s. India expects to order around 16 more C-17s.

The commercial bid for the contract expires on midnight of April 28.

The down selected vendors will be asked to submit their revised offsets proposals by October/November this year. It is increasingly being understood the MMRCA project will accrue benefits of the soon-to be re-revised Defense Procurement Policy 2011, instead of the DPP 2006 it was originally covered under.

DPP 2006 does not recognize banking of offsets, among other clauses.

The re-jigged DPP 2011, announced in January was expected to go through another change in early May, which might be delayed by at least a month, Aerospace Diary learns.

Meanwhile, ambiguities are being cleared in the civil aerospace offsets. Changes to be covered under DPP 2011 are expected to be announced within a week. They include removal of technical documentation and simulators to be transferred to government bodies and not to private companies.

“Simulators are seen as a national asset,” an official told Aerospace Diary.

“Offsets for the MMRCA are stuck and nobody can submit a fully compliant offer till changes are made and grey areas removed,” adds an official.