The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday said the trials for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) acquisition is on course and the exercise could be wrapped by April this year.
Of the six fighter aircraft competing in the $ 10.2-billion deal, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik said, three – French Rafale and American F16 and F18 – have completed all three phases of the trials while the rest are going through it.
“By the end of April trials will be over and we will take a couple of months to finalise [IAF assessment on the fighter plans],” Air Chief said here at a press conference. The trials began last autumn with Boeing flying in the F18/A to Bangalore.
European consortium’s Eurofighter ‘Typhoon,’ Sweden’s Grippen and Russian MiG35 have completed two phases. The IAF has asked all the bidders to hold trials across different weather conditions at Bangalore, Leh and Jaisalmer and then for field orientation trials at the manufacturer’s location where efficacy of weapons systems will be tested.
Having completed its first phase, two Typhoon aircraft flew into Bangalore last week for the trials starting on Monday. The company representative Matthias Schmidlin told The Hindu during Defexpo-2010 that the last phase is expected to take place during April in Germany, where the IAF will test aircraft’s weapon system and advanced sensors.
SAAB from Sweden has fielded Grippen which will bring its aircraft to India next month for second phase of trials. It completed the third phase earlier. Russian MiG35 will have to undergo the third phase.
Most of the manufacturers who were here during the Defexpo were happy at the pace at which the trials were progressing. “We are impressed by the speed at which it [trials] is progressing and it is a clear sign for early decision” Mr. Schmidlin said.
As per the terms of the contract, the first 18 aircraft will be flown-in by the manufacturer while the rest will be made in India under licensed production. It also entails that the manufacturer will plough back 50 per cent of the total value of the contract in India.
