M A I N   N E W S

IAF to induct 125 new fighter aircraft

New Delhi, February 29
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is in hectic negotiations with French, Russian and US bidders to purchase 125 frontline multi-role fighter planes to partially replace nearly 300 MiG-21 aircraft on the verge of being phased out.

Though French aircraft major Dassault is currently the frontrunner with its offer of upgraded Mirage 2000-5 aircraft, Lockheed-Martin is offering technology transfer of its runway bestseller F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The two major Russian fighter companies — Mikoyan, the makers of the MiG range of fighters, and Tobensoexport, the makers of Sukhoi aircraft — have formed a consortium to jointly bid for the Indian contract, according to Defence Ministry sources.

The IAF, official sources said, had projected an immediate need for some 125 new fighter planes, with the selection expected to be completed in a few months.

The new fighters would seek to partially replace 300 MiG 21 FL/M interceptors and 100 MiG 23BN ground attack fighters, which have reached the end of their flying time and are on the verge of being phased out.

India, officials said, was expected to go in for direct purchase of the fighters in a bid to allow the Aircraft Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited more time to make progress on the Tejas, country’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which, according to current schedule, is expected to be inducted only by 2009.

A high-level team from the French company was recently here for protracted negotiations with the Defence Ministry and Indian Air Force officials. Dassault, while offering the upgraded Mirage 2000-5, is also ready for a technology-transfer arrangement to set up an assembly plant at HAL.

With the delay in the LCA programme, the IAF is in danger of entering a critical phase as it faces reduction in its fighter flying fleet from the current 39 fighter squadrons to 32 squadrons by 2006.

The IAF, in its projection, wants a fighter with a maximum take off weight ration of 25,000 kg, forcing the Sukhoi company to join hands with Mikoyan to back the upgraded MiG-29MI/M2 for the contract. — PTI