Indian MMRCA Deal Likely By April, Negotiations Progressing Well

The Indian government is set to purchase 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) fighter planes and plans to sign the contract by April 2013. Air Chief Marshal N. A. K. Browne, Chief of Indian Air Staff, said, “Negotiations are on. We should be able to finish the contract this financial year. It is a complex process. We are discussing offsets, transfer of technology, HAL’s [Hindustan Aeronautics Limited] role and the cost, of course. It is progressing well”. The combat aircraft will replace the ageing MiG-21s. The MMRCA contract is estimated to be Rs 50,000 crore. The Indian Air Force chose the French entry, Rafale fourth-generation fighter plane, in February 2012. A multi-ministry negotiations committee is currently in talks with its manufacturer, Dassault Systemes Aviation. Eighteen of the 126 planes are to be purchased directly from Dassault, while HAL will manufacture the other 108 under a licence at an upcoming facility in Bangalore.