Article Posted on : - May 29, 2011

NEW DELHI (PTI): Appreciating the "transparency and orderly manner" in which the Indian government has gone about the selection of Medium Weight-Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), Germany has said it is prepared to share most modern technology with its Indian partners.

Briefing reporters ahead of the Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit next week, German ambassador Thomas Matussek said in all probability she will express to the Prime Minister "our great satisfaction about the transparency and orderly manned in which Indian government approached this process".

She will also "express our full confidence in the procedure with which India, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) will continue to approach this process", Matussek said here.

Asserting that Germany was prepared to share most modern technology with its Indian partners, he said Germany was "quite happy" with its Eurofighter Typhoon's shortlisting.

Terming the development as a "unique, strategical and technological partnership", he said the Eurofighter represents the most advance and the most cost efficient combat aircraft.

He said these are the most modern aircraft, not the old ones which have been modernised many times.

Asked about competition from French fighter aircraft Rafale, developed by France’s Dassault Aviation, Matussek said, it was always better to go with a group of more than one country as it provides you with more expertise.

Developed by European Consortium's EADS, Typhoon along with Rafale last month qualified for the final round of commercial bidding process for the $10.4 billion MMRCA deal.

Under the deal, India would get a total of 126 fighter aircraft which will form the backbone of IAF's air-strike and deep penetration capability in the future.