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IAF to buy 125 aircraft at $5 bnOur Political Bureau / New Delhi/Bangalore November 22, 2005Indian Air Force (IAF) today formally announced that it was in the market to spend $5 billion to buy 125 fighter aircraft, one of the biggest purchases by the IAF since it bought the Su-30 from Russia. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi said the government was expected to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) soon. US company Lockheed Martin's F-16s were in the running for a contract, he added. Pakistan had recently deferred the purchase of previously contracted F-16s because of the damage its economy suffered after the earthquake. Islamabad thought that buying military equipment while it was seeking aid to reconstruct its economy would send a wrong signal to donor nations. “I think within a month, requests for proposals will go,†Tyagi told reporters in Bangalore on the sidelines of a function at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment. Apart from the F-16 from the US, France’s Mirage 2000, the MiG-29 from Russia and the Swedish Grippen are also in the race. Asked about the possibility of F-16s bagging the deal, he said: “That possibility exists. Of course, we have asked them for information. It is very much in the contentionâ€. Asked if provision would be made in this year’s Budget for buying the aircraft, he said, “It will take a long time to sign the contract. We are not buying potatoes and vegetables, are we? It is a $5 billion deal. It won’t happen in a day.†Although the purchase of aircraft has been in the pipeline, since January this year, the IAF was reported to have shifted its preference towards a twin-engine aircraft. This effectively ruled out the Mirage 2000H, the F-16 and the Grippen, and brought the French Rafale, The RSKMiG's MiG-29 and the Eurofighter Typhoon into the picture. Though there is no clarity about what its preference is, it is clear that the purchase is to replace IAF's ageing Russian built MiG-21s, which date back to the 1960s. Russian aircraft make up most of the IAF's fleet, which has no US-built hardware in it. In July 2005, Boeing had also offered its F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet†for the IAF's consideration. Boeing said it was in talks with the IAF and the Navy and was also offering the co-production of the Super Hornet in India, subject to the US government’s approval. In August 2005, Russia offered its MiG-35 for the IAF's consideration as well.
IAF to buy 125 aircraft at $5 bnOur Political Bureau / New Delhi/Bangalore November 22, 2005Indian Air Force (IAF) today formally announced that it was in the market to spend $5 billion to buy 125 fighter aircraft, one of the biggest purchases by the IAF since it bought the Su-30 from Russia. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi said the government was expected to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) soon. US company Lockheed Martin's F-16s were in the running for a contract, he added. Pakistan had recently deferred the purchase of previously contracted F-16s because of the damage its economy suffered after the earthquake. Islamabad thought that buying military equipment while it was seeking aid to reconstruct its economy would send a wrong signal to donor nations. “I think within a month, requests for proposals will go,†Tyagi told reporters in Bangalore on the sidelines of a function at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment. Apart from the F-16 from the US, France’s Mirage 2000, the MiG-29 from Russia and the Swedish Grippen are also in the race. Asked about the possibility of F-16s bagging the deal, he said: “That possibility exists. Of course, we have asked them for information. It is very much in the contentionâ€. Asked if provision would be made in this year’s Budget for buying the aircraft, he said, “It will take a long time to sign the contract. We are not buying potatoes and vegetables, are we? It is a $5 billion deal. It won’t happen in a day.†Although the purchase of aircraft has been in the pipeline, since January this year, the IAF was reported to have shifted its preference towards a twin-engine aircraft. This effectively ruled out the Mirage 2000H, the F-16 and the Grippen, and brought the French Rafale, The RSKMiG's MiG-29 and the Eurofighter Typhoon into the picture. Though there is no clarity about what its preference is, it is clear that the purchase is to replace IAF's ageing Russian built MiG-21s, which date back to the 1960s. Russian aircraft make up most of the IAF's fleet, which has no US-built hardware in it. In July 2005, Boeing had also offered its F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet†for the IAF's consideration. Boeing said it was in talks with the IAF and the Navy and was also offering the co-production of the Super Hornet in India, subject to the US government’s approval. In August 2005, Russia offered its MiG-35 for the IAF's consideration as well.
. I mean look, they are stunned with everything Pakistan does. If Pakistan does get in a negotiation in arms ,they are forced to come up to the stand and oppose Pakistan. And if we do manage to get it, India always looks to something better to counter it. And this is exactly what i mean. you want to see an example?