India's combat aircraft deal likely in 5-6 weeks: Naik - Brahmand.com
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NEW DELHI (PTI): India’s Air Chief Marshal P V Naik has said the likely winner of the multi-billion dollar combat aircraft deal would be known in the "next five to six" weeks. "The next step is to call vendors and open up the commercial bids. I think in the next five to six weeks, I expect that the L1 (lowest bidder) would be decided," he said on Tuesday.
As per the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), the lowest bidder in the multi vendor tenders is considered to be the winner of the deals.
European consortium Eurofighter Typhoon and
the French Dassault Rafale are the two companies
in race for supplying 126 Medium-Multirole
Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA) to the Indian Air Force.
The two companies were shortlisted after a five-
year long competition between six companies
including the American Boeing and Lockheed
Martin, Russian MiG 35 and Swedish Saab Gripen.
The IAF chief said that major procedures such as
the completion of the Technical Offsets Evaluation
Committee report have been finalised.
Commenting on the Mirage 2000 aircraft upgrade
programme, Naik said the deal worth over Rs
10,900 crore would be signed soon under which
51 aircraft would be upgraded.
On the results for procuring heavy-lift and attack
helicopters, the IAF chief said the trials have been
completed by the force and the trial report would
be submitted to the Defence Ministry soon.
On the controversy surrounding the
procurement of the basic trainer aircraft, the IAF
chief said, "I am not aware of any Korean
controversy. They have written a letter that they
should be given a chance. Correct procedure has
been followed and Swiss firm Pilatus has been
declared as lowest bidder.
"There is no controversy as far as I am
concerned. Now the commercial negotiations will
start."
On the highest point in his career, Naik, who is
retiring on July 31, said it came when he visited
the US for the Red Flag exercises as the Vice Chief
of Air Force where the IAF came in for lot of
praise for its efficiency and professionalism.
"The conquering of the Mount Everest by three
women officers was the highest point as Chief of
Air Staff," he said.
Asked why the IAF was not taking part in
multilateral Red Flag exercises held in the US, he
said, "Taking part in such exercises costs money
and that is why we have decided that we will take
part only once in five years in such exercises. So,
the next exercise may take place in 2013."
On queries about the possibility of Indian armed
forces to carry out Abottabad like operations, he
said, "Yes, we do have the capability to carry out
a similar operation."
To a query on the proposed Medium Combat
Aircraft (MCA) being developed by the DRDO, the
IAF chief said, "At present, I have been so busy
with the LCA that I have had no time to think
about MCA."
"Its development has already started on drawing
board. Once developed, it will be a twin engine
aircraft. I think it will be an improvement on the
LCA," he said.