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As the aircraftcarrier INS Vikramaditya sailed towards the warmer Indian Ocean, it also warmed the cockles of Indian hearts that had waited for its arrival for over 5 years. Now, all eyes are set, and some fingers crossed, for signing of the mother-of-all-deals, the near $20 billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft(MMRCA) Rafale contract. The Indian Air Force, the aviation industry and the national security establishment have great stakes in early conclusion of this game-changing deal.
The IAF's dwindling fighter squadrons, currently near an all-time low of 34, are the cause of serious concern. With 50 percent offset obligations, the Indian aviation industry is virtually salivating in expectation of their share of this huge business that could also infuse latest technologies. With two not-so-friendly nuclear neighbours with whom we have serious boundary disputes, and have actually gone to war, national security requires strong air power which has become the dominating means of prosecution of war. A recent statement by the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal S Sukumar that the Rafale deal would be signed "within this financial year" was like a flicker of a candle in the wind.
With continuing delays in development of the indigenous ADA-HAL Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) and inevitable phasing out of MiG-21s and MiG-27s, and in time, MiG-29s and Jaguars, there is urgent need for a replacement aircraft. The requirement of 126 MMRCAs (six squadrons) was first mooted by the IAF in 2001. After much iteration, the final Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued in August 2007. The Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, Russian MiG-35, Dassault Rafale, Lockheed F-16 Super Viper and Saab JAS 39 Gripen were the shortlisted types. The first 18 aircraft(one squadron) would be procured from the selected OEM in 'fly away' condition and the remaining 108 manufactured in India by HAL with full Transfer of Technology (TOT). Value of the contract was estimated at $14.92 billion. There was an option clause for 74 additional aircraft.
After rigorous flight and ground evaluation, the Rafale and the Typhoon were determined as technically compliant. On 31 January 2012 it was announced that Dassault Rafale had won the competition owing to its lower life-cycle costs. The Rafale thus emerged "a world beater" after a very tough competition of...