India reviews bids in $11 billion fighter jet deal

New Delhi: India's Defense Ministry has begun reviewing competing bids from Eurofighter and Dassault for the purchase of 126 multi-role combat aircraft worth about $11 billion.
Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said officials met with representatives of the European competitors on Friday and are expected to take six to eight weeks to pick the winning bidder. Eurofighter is offering its Typhoon aircraft while Dassault's bid is for its Rafale.
Planes from Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin of the United States and from Russian and Swedish makers were earlier disqualified on technical and operational grounds.
India, the world's biggest arms importer, is being wooed by major international arms manufacturers as it replaces its obsolete Soviet-era weapons.
Eighteen fighter aircraft are to be delivered in ``fly away'' condition within 36 months and the remaining 108 are to be built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. through technology transfers.
The deal is expected to be signed before the end of India's current financial year in March.
04/11/11 AP/Economic Times

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2011