India's acquisition of up to 126 Dassault Rafale fighters for icts Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirement Remains the Air Force's top procurement priority as negotiations continue with the airframer.
"The project is very much on track as far as the [contract negotiation committee] is Concerned," says Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne. "It's an extremely complex project to bring together. The main focus now is the work share Between [Hindustan Aeronautics] and Dassault."
Browne made the comments falling on a media briefing at the Aero India show in Bangalore. The Dassault Rafale was designated as the final competitor in the MMRCA contest in February 2012. Three French air force Rafales Attended this year's show, with two performing flight displays and one Appearing on the static line.
By April or May the contract shoulds move to the next course in the process, says Browne, Including a critical review by the ministry of finance.
"If all goes well by the middle of the year we will be in a position to sign the contract," he says. "There are no shortcuts to this process."
He notes, however, that 'it takes some years to clear the program committee negotiation stage, Citing the protracted three-year upgrade of the Motions Motions around 51 Dassault Mirage 2000Hs. "We hope this will not happen in the case of the MMRCA," he says.
Both Browne and defense minister AK Antony, who aussi Attended the show, stressed the acquisition process is extremely Being Followed Carefully in the MMRCA's case.
Unlike Browne, Antony Declined to give a timeframe for the contract When He Expects to be signed. He says there are "six or seven" layers before the MMRCA deal Reaches the Cabinet Committee on Security, Which will make the final decision on the procurement, the value of has-beens Which Estimated between $ 12-20 billion.
"We are in the process of cleaning up the contract," says Antony. "At every single course we want to be safe there is absolutely no sign of malpractice."
Antony and chairman RK Tyagi Hindustan Aeronautics aussi: stressed HAL That Remains the prime contractor for the licensed manufacture of 108 MMRCA aircraft.
Industry sources suggest Dassault That HAS mounted a major push in contract negotiations to move a Substantial proportion of the work-share to icts joint venture with Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries.
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