More to Eurofighter's Optimism On India Sale Than Meets the Eye

Eurofighter seems to have grown in confidence regarding a possible sale of the Typhoon fighter aircraft to India.

Eurofighter executives have been proactive in engaging Indian officials in recent weeks even as India-France talks are ongoing to wrap up the government-to-government deal for 36 Rafale aircraft.

Sources close to Eurofighter told defenseworld.net that Eurofighter's optimism grows from the fact that there is no possibility of a license-manufacturing deal with Rafale in the medium term as the contract to fulfill the order for 36 aircraft itself would take till the end of this decade. India and Dassault have been unable to come to an agreement on local manufacture despite three years of talks which all but rules out re-engaging with Dassault for a make-in-India deal.

Secondly, India's plans to phase out 3 squadrons of MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircraft by the end of this year would leave it poorer by 54 aircraft. Lastly, Eurofighter and its consortium partners, the Airbus family are involved in various projects in India which will enable the European consortium to offer a 'mouth-watering' deal  of manufacturing the aircraft in India, according to the sources.

Stephen Phipson, head of UK Trade and Investment's Defense Support Organization (UKTI DSO) has been quoted during the recent Paris Air show, "they've made their first selection of a very limited number of Rafales compared to the initial requirement for 126 fast jets. So our belief, and I was in India all of last week talking with them, is that the competition is still open with what they do with their second and maybe even third tranche of fast jets in India."

Many in India believe that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will have to look beyond the Rafale if it has to bolster its fleet significantly over the next 5-10 years. Dassault itself has been suddenly stretched after pocketing three contracts for 84 aircraft with Egypt, Qatar and India (contract yet to be signed) besides its own commitment to supply the French Air Force.

India has initiated talks with various manufacturers for the possible manufacture of a light or medium fighter aircraft in India and Eurofighter could be one of them. The others may include Saab of Sweden and Rosoboronexport of Russia.

Ever since Eurofighter lost out to Dassault in the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal, it has made several entreaties to India for a re-look into its Eurofighter program. Having lost out on the cost front, Eurofighter has lost no opportunity to emphasize that it would be cheaper than Dassault's Rafale in the long run if life cycle costs were take into consideration.