New Delhi: US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin may re-enter the IndianMedium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) race. The powerful Senate ArmedServices Committee of the US is pushing the Defense Department to offer Indiathe high-tech F-35 stealth fighter aircraft, the worlds only fifth generation multi-role fighter, built by Lockheed Martin.The move comes after Lockheed’s F-16IN Super Viper and Boeing’s F/A-18Super Hornet were eliminated from the MMRCA race two months ago.The US Senate intervention comes at a time when the F-35 project has beendogged by delays and rising costs. There are also reports of the US Air Forcecutting orders for the fifth generation fighter.It’s not clear how India will respond if a formal offer is made as the Indian AirForce is already working on a fifth generation fighter project with Russia.The race for 126 combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force is already in the finalphase with the Eurofighter consortium and the French Dassault Aviation thatmakes Rafale aircraft in the fray for the $10.6 billion dollar MMRCA fighter deal.The Eurofighter consortium and the Dassault are only companies that have beenasked to extend the commercial bids for their aircraft.The IAF has shortlisted the Eurofighter and the Rafale aircraft for the MMRCAselection and commercial negotiations will get underway only on these twoaircraft.Eurofighter is built by a consortium of four countries - UK, Italy, Spain andGermany - whereas the Rafale is a French aircraft developed by DassaultAviation.Along with these two fighters, four other aircraft - the F-16 and F/A-18, RussianMiG-35 and Swedish Saab Gripen - vied with each other in the five-year longtender for the much awaited deal.The IAF had tested the six defence majors in the fray on 643 parameters andmarked them on the basis of their performance in the Field Evaluation Trialssource
Re: US may re-enter MMRCA race, offer F-35 to IAF
deal might can go up from 11billion to 17 billion.already 25billion usd for 200-300 pak-fa add 6billion plus on investment.but it should take some where around 2018-2025.india can get f-35 much earlier which can be every useful for AMCA project.but compare to Ef or rafale, there won't be TOT with americans, considering Europeans are offering partnership.may be some joint work on EF2.also I think private companies like tata,wipro should come up, more than the aircrafts india is getting it's the production that's going to give problem.already Iaf has ordered huge number of lca tejas,plus su-30mki and super su-30mki,lca mki2 version, then there is Amca and pak-fA(fgfa twin seater indian version).not to forget upgrading mirage2000s.i dunno where this MMRCa project will fit since india wants to assemble locally
Re: US may re-enter MMRCA race, offer F-35 to IAF
india should go for f35-but had to wait longer it is still in developmental stage