Betul: Swedish aerospace firm Saab reiterated its offer to supply the next generation Gripen-E fighter aircraft to India through the "government-to-government" route and has offered to not only make the aircraft in India but also create the required manufacturing ecosystem in the country as part of the multi-billion dollar project.
"We are not saying don't go ahead with Rafale with France. We know that the Indian Air Force has a much bigger requirement than the 36 aircraft being negotiated. Over the next seven years, the IAF will be down to less than 30 squadrons. We are offering the Gripen through the government-to-government route, which is the best process," Saab, air systems vice-president Sudhir Varma said on Tuesday.
A day earlier, a US think tank had pointed out vulnerabilities in the Indian Air Force's strength and said that air dominance was vital for the country if it were to have deterrence stability in southern Asia and for preserving the strategic balance in the wider Indo-Pacific region.The formal offer was along the lines of Saab's $4.68 billion fighter deal with Brazil where the Swedish company is manufacturing aircraft in Brazil.
30/03/16 Times of India
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"We are not saying don't go ahead with Rafale with France. We know that the Indian Air Force has a much bigger requirement than the 36 aircraft being negotiated. Over the next seven years, the IAF will be down to less than 30 squadrons. We are offering the Gripen through the government-to-government route, which is the best process," Saab, air systems vice-president Sudhir Varma said on Tuesday.
A day earlier, a US think tank had pointed out vulnerabilities in the Indian Air Force's strength and said that air dominance was vital for the country if it were to have deterrence stability in southern Asia and for preserving the strategic balance in the wider Indo-Pacific region.The formal offer was along the lines of Saab's $4.68 billion fighter deal with Brazil where the Swedish company is manufacturing aircraft in Brazil.
30/03/16 Times of India
