yeah the deal which grabbed the attention of the world is about to be dragged by Euofighter Typhoon.
India had short-listed French Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for the project to acquire 126 fighters, while rejecting American Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin F-16, Sweden's Gripen and Russian MiG-35 fighters.
Dassault and Europefighter have been asked by the Ministry of Defence to extend the offer validity.
"If Typhoon is chosen, the order for the contract will be firmed up in the first quarter of next year and "delivery of aircraft will begin in 2015," Christie indicated.According to Christie, Typhoon is a generation ahead of Chinese aircraft J10 Thunder.
"China also unveiled a proto-type of J20. But typhoon is one of the most advanced aircraft, The missile capability of the aircraft and radar capability are of a different level," he said.
It is built by a four-nation European consortium - Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain - with Britain and Germany having 33 per cent stake each.Answering a question on indigenisation of HAWK, Christie said "The indigenisation programme is very successful".India had contracted to receive 66 HAWK - 26 built in the UK and 42 under licence by HAL in Bengaluru under a 1 billion pound agreement and the contract was widened by New Delhi to purchase 57 more HAWKs under licence production.
Today, the Indian Tricolour is flying proudly outside the BAE Warton production centre, along with the British flag, thanks to the massive Indian order, which is keeping the company going.Christie said that India is keen to have 70 per cent of the Typhoon to be produced in India and the 30 per cent in the UK.
BAE is keen to make India a partner of the Consortium, Christie said.
Asked whether India could export HAWK, Christie said, the existing agreement does not allow it."We are in discussion to find how we can do that". Christie said, adding, "Typhoon has taken us to the next generation of aircraft"."If India were to finalise the agreement for Typhoon, it will be produced in Bengaluru. They will have to create new space for it in Bengaluru", he said.
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