Article Posted on : - Aug 12, 2009

A File Photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Ahead of the flight trials of six contenders for India's USD 10-billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract this month, strategic considerations may influence government's final decision, Indian Air Force (IAF) sources said here today.

"Strategic issues may influence the decision as the Cabinet Committee on Security will take a final call based on political and strategic considerations. The winner of the 126 combat aircraft contract need not necessarily be the lowest bidder," senior IAF officials said.

They were answering to a question if bitter past experiences with Russia on spare supplies and US over technology denials would be taken into consideration before the mother of all defence deals was awarded.

"The DPP does not provide for splitting the aircraft order, although the government has the right to place orders with any company," they said when asked if the contract could be awarded to two different contenders by splitting the number of aircraft required by the IAF.

The tender for the MMRCA was issued in late 2007 and the elaborate process of evaluating the technical proposals from US' Lockheed Martin F-16, Boeing F/A-18, Russian MiG-35, SAAB Gripen, EADS Eurofighter Typhoon and French Rafale had been completed this March.