Rafale to be excluded from Indian fighter contest?

The Indian media reported on April 16 that French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter had been excluded from the US$10-12 billion Indian Air Force (IAF) competition for 126 Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MMRCAs), with an option on a further 64 aircraft.

     According to a senior – but unidentified -- Indian Defence Ministry official, quoted by the media, the Rafale was rejected at the technical evaluation stage for failing to meet minimum performance requirements that had been detailed in the tender document, under the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs).

     “They did not meet the requirements and will not proceed to the next stage,” the official is reported as saying. “We hope to begin trials within three months with the others that have qualified.”

     The Indian Air Force, however, which is responsible for evaluating the contenders, on April 20 denied that the Rafale had been eliminated. “We have not ruled anyone out yet in the MMRCA competition,” said an IAF spokesman. “All of the tests have not been completed. The technical evaluations are only just over and we are scheduled to begin the flight tests next month. Everyone is still in the competition."

All six for flight trials

In addition to the Rafale, the other MMRCA competitors are: the Boeing F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet; the Eurofighter Typhoon; the Lockheed Martin F-16IN Block 60 Super Viper; the United Aircraft Corporation’s MiG-35 upgrade of the MiG-29K; and the upgraded Saab JAS-39 Gripen NG.

    The six aircraft types will all undergo at least two sets of in-country flight trials, conducted in summer and winter, with testing in desert heat, humid conditions and extremely cold high mountains. An IAF Staff Evaluation will then whittle them down to a shortlist of 2-3 finalists. After final negotiations, the winner is expected to be selected by the end of 2011.

      The first 18 MMRCAs will be delivered to the IAF ‘off-the-shelf’ directly from the overseas manufacturer, for service from 2012-13. The remainder will be produced in India under a Transfer of Technology (ToT) deal.

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