India fighter jet deal soars to $20bn
An Indian contract to buy 126 fighter jets from one of two European bidders could be worth $20bn, almost double the original estimate, according to the government.
The defence ministry revised up its initial $11bn estimate after reviewing bids from the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium and Frances Dassault, the maker of the Rafale aircraft, a ministry official told the Financial Times.
While the government has already received the bid details from the companies, it was expected to officially open the sealed envelopes with the full offers on Friday.
After reviewing the competing offers, the government will choose a lead bidder with whom it will then start negotiating a final price.
When the tender to modernise Indias air force, one of the biggest military aviation orders by a single country, was launched more than four years ago, it was estimated at $11bn.
In April, India shortlisted Eurofighter and Rafale after eliminating Boeings F/A-18, Lockheed Martins F-16, Russias MiG-35 and Swedish Saabs Gripen.
The decision to choose one of the European aircraft has not prevented the US from making a last-ditch effort to sell advanced fighters to India. The Pentagon this week told the US Congress that it was prepared to provide information to India about the F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation fighter aircraft produced by Lockheed Martin.
European defence companies have expressed concern that the US might try to short-circuit the bidding process with a new, more attractive offer outside of the terms of the competition.
But Indian defence analysts say that the process to choose the multi-role combat aircraft is too far advanced for a U-turn. A sudden departure from the process would dent credibility, they say, at a time when the conduct of Indias bureaucracy is under greater public scrutiny after a number of high profile corruption scandals.
India fighter jet deal soars to $20bn - FT.com