New Delhi: The Defence Ministry today suggested that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd would be the lead integrator for producing 108 multi-role combat aircrafts (MMRCA) in the country after French firm Dassault Aviation sought to play a bigger role in the multi-billion dollar project.
"The role of HAL is already defined in the Request for Proposal for the MMRCA project. It says that the main body, aero-engines, air frame and the integration shall be done by HAL," Secretary (Defence Production) R K Mathur said at the Aero India 2013 press conference here.
Dassault, which bagged the IAF deal for supplying 126 medium multi-role combat aircrafts, had asked the Ministry to define the role of HAL in the project.
As per the tender, first 18 of the 126 aircrafts are to be supplied by Rafale from its facilities and the rest 108 are to be license produced and integrated by HAL at its facilities here.
21/01/13 PTI/Business Standard
