David Cameron is to press the case of the British-backed Eurofighter Typhoons during a visit to India next week, amid hopes that New Delhi's plans to buy a rival French jet in a $14bn (£9bn) deal may collapse.
Amid signs that the prime minister's trip could be overshadowed by a row over a separate £483m helicopter deal, No 10 made clear that Cameron would go out of his way to promote the Eurofighter when he meets his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.
The prime minister is to make a renewed push for the Eurofighter after François Hollande, the French president, failed to finalise a deal to sell 126 Dassault Rafale fighter planes to Delhi during a trip to India this week. Delhi opted for the French jet in a $14bn deal last year, nudging aside Eurofighter which is made in part by BAE Systems.
A Downing Street official said: "We respect the fact that the Indians have chosen their preferred bidder and are currently negotiating with the French. Of course, we will continue to promote Eurofighter as a great fast jet, not just in India but around the world."
15/02/13 Nicholas Watt/The Guardian
