Article Posted on : - Jan 13, 2010

The A330 multirole transport tanker aircraft which India was planning to buy for the IAF. A file photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik has said the Air Force's plans to buy six air-to-air refuelers will be “delayed” with the Government cancelling the tenders recently, as it would have to go through the procurement process once again.

“I am not talking about strategic reach, but we need more refuelers, which will be delayed now. We will have to restart the action now,” Naik told reporters when asked if the IAF's strategic reach might be adversely impacted by the withdrawal of the tenders.

The Defence Ministry had last week cancelled the tenders worth Rs 6,000 crore after Finance Ministry objected to the price of the Airbus A330 multi-role transport tanker (MRTT) aircraft that the IAF had chosen to buy after a two-year procurement process, in a major setback to its plans to expand its long reach capabilities.

The refueler enables in-flight transfer of fuel from it to fighter aircraft and transport planes, thereby enhancing their flying hours.

Russian IL-78 aircraft, six of which India already possesses, was the other contender who could not win the race for the IAF tenders.

The Finance Ministry's objection was to the high price quoted by Airbus, much more than what the Russians had asked for their aircraft.

But the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) norms stipulated that the Government buy the product that satisfied the qualitative requirements of the armed forces, but also has the lowest price.