Article Posted on : - Aug 11, 2010

The MiG-35 fighter. A MiG photo.

MOSCOW (PTI): Russia Tuesday said it was not aware of its MiG-35 fighter's failure to make to the short-list in the USD 10.4 billion tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air force, according to a local daily.

Commenting on Indian media reports about IAF favouring the French Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon, an official of the United Aircraft Corporation - the Russian bidder told Kommersant daily that India has not informed them about its decision.

"The MiG-35 is not leaving the tender, and I have no official information about this," UAC First Vice-President Mikhail Pogosyan was quoted as saying by the daily.

A MiG source quoted by Kommersant said it was too early to say what the Indians had decided.

"The official results of the tender have not yet been announced," said UAC's Press Secretary Konstantin Lantratov.

Several sources quoted by the paper listed a number of problems related to the MiG-35 programme, including a lack of financing to support it.

The MiG-35 is said to be a cheaper aircraft than its rivals but is said to have problems with engine life.

"Time between overhauls should be at least 2000 hours and overall life 4000 hours, but the RD-33 doesn't meet these parameters now," Kommersant quoted an unnamed MiG source.

Reports in the Indian media had said that other contenders of the 'mother-of-the-deals' -- Sweden's SAAB Gripen, US Lockheed Martin's F-16 and Boeing's F-18 Super Hornet -- have also failed to win the hearts of the IAF.