Decision on $ 10 bn MMRCA Deal Today

The Defence Acquisition Council will decide on Friday which company will be given India's over $10 billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal. The race to supply for 126 fighter jets is between two European offerings - the French Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon, manufactured by a European consortium. The Eurofighter and the Rafale are relatively new aircraft and according to the IAF state of art. The Eurofighter has entered service with six air forces in the last few years and the Rafale is in service with the French Air Force. India urgently needs more fighters and the new planes will take 10 years to come, even after the deal is signed. The IAF wants to begin induction of the MMRCA in its fleet by 2015, by when it will start phasing out the Soviet-era MiG series of fighter jets. It is being termed as the biggest defence deal in the history of India, a deal worth 12 billion dollars for 126 multi-role fighter jets. Two European contenders have been shortlisted by the Defense Ministry for the significant purchase which will renovate the face of the Indian Air Force. A deal that will restore the Indian Air Force's dwindling fleet and replace the aging Mig-21s and in the race for the historical deal - after two years of cut & thrust- there are two European competitors: France's Dassault Rafale & EADS Eurofighter Typhoon, both calling their jets the best and lobbying hard for the significant deal and confident of even getting one. The two European contenders have defeated two American companies (Lockheed Martin F-16IN & Boeing F/A-18) despite US President's high praises and two others, Saab Gripen and Russian MiG-35.