A frustrated IAF has asked the defence ministry to take a decision, one way or the other, on its long-pending case for the almost $2 billion acquisition of six Airbus-330 midair refuelling aircraft or tankers to boost the strategic reach of its fighters and bombers.
Stressing the critical operational necessity for fast induction of the tankers, the IAF wants the A-330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) deal to be inked as soon as possible, or conversely scrapped, to ensure that a new procurement case can begin afresh.
“The IAF believes the case is just going around in circles without any resolution.
It is stuck in the CNC (contract negotiation committee) stage, with Airbus being asked to keep on extending the validity of its commercial bid,†said a defence ministry source.
With French President Francois Hollande arriving on a state visit to India on Sunday, there may now be some additional pressure on the NDA government to fast-track the A-330 MRTT deal since the Airbus group is headquartered at Toulouse in France.
The IAF had first taken up the case for acquisition of the additional tankers in 2006, after inducting six Ilyushin-78 midair refuelling aircraft in 2003-2004. The two-engine A-330 MRTT has twice been selected over the four-engine Russian IL-78 in technical and commercial evaluation over the last decade.
25/01/16 IBC World News
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
Stressing the critical operational necessity for fast induction of the tankers, the IAF wants the A-330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) deal to be inked as soon as possible, or conversely scrapped, to ensure that a new procurement case can begin afresh.
“The IAF believes the case is just going around in circles without any resolution.
It is stuck in the CNC (contract negotiation committee) stage, with Airbus being asked to keep on extending the validity of its commercial bid,†said a defence ministry source.
With French President Francois Hollande arriving on a state visit to India on Sunday, there may now be some additional pressure on the NDA government to fast-track the A-330 MRTT deal since the Airbus group is headquartered at Toulouse in France.
The IAF had first taken up the case for acquisition of the additional tankers in 2006, after inducting six Ilyushin-78 midair refuelling aircraft in 2003-2004. The two-engine A-330 MRTT has twice been selected over the four-engine Russian IL-78 in technical and commercial evaluation over the last decade.
25/01/16 IBC World News
