The French Rafale fighter has been knocked out of the $10 billion (Rs. 42,000 crore) contract to provide 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Defence Ministry (MOD) sources indicated that the Rafale had ‘fallen short’ on several requirements detailed in the GSQRs (general staff qualitative requirements) spelt out by the IAF. The fighters left in the fray were now the American made F/A-18 ’Super Hornet’ (Boeing) and F-16 Falcon (Lockheed Martin), Russian MiG-35 (United Aircraft Corporation), Swedish Gripen (Saab) and Eurofighter Typhoon (consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies). These fighters are expected to take part in trails expected to begin from July-August. The IAF expects to buy 18 jets off-the-shelf, and rest would be manufactured in India under the transfer of technology agreement by 2012-20131.

• 1. “IAF jettisons French bird from $10b deal,” Times of India, April 17, 2009, at http://www.india-defence.com/reports-4326