Article Posted on : - Sep 07, 2011

During the visit, the IAF chief may go to the plant where the Eurofighter Typhoon (in pic), contending for the multi-million MMRCA deal, is manufactured.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne has embarked on a week-long visit to Germany to strengthen military ties with the European country.

The visit comes at a time when the Defence Ministry is in the final stages of deciding the multi-billion dollar deal to procure 126 Medium-Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the IAF.

Germany is the lead partner of the four nations manufacturing the Eurofighter Typhoon, which along with the French Dassault Rafale, has been shortlisted for the deal by the ministry.

During the visit, which began Tuesday, the IAF chief may also go to the plant where the Eurofighter Typhoon is manufactured.

He will meet with senior military leadership of that country to strengthen bilateral ties.

India is in final stages of finalising the mega deal and is likely to open the commercial bids of the two shortlisted companies by the end of this month.

The new aircraft will be used by the IAF to replace its aging fleet of MiG-21 and MiG-27 warplanes.