FRENCH RAFALE OUT OF MMRCA RACE

An  IDC Analysis

18 April 2009

In a surprise development in the Indian quest to acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the  IAF, the French state-of-the-art multi-role combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation, Rafale was rejected at the technical evaluation stage. Detailed reasons for the rejection were not forthcoming at this stage, but only that the aircraft failed to meet the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs) specified in the Request for Proposals (RPF). Defence ministry (MoD) sources on 16th March said Rafale had 'fallen short' on 'several counts' listed in the GSQRs drawn up by IAF. "It did not pass muster in the technical evaluation of the bids submitted by the six contenders," the source said.

This leaves only five contenders viz. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Fighting Falcon renamed Super Viper for India, Boeing’s F/A-18 Superhornet, SAAB’s Gripen, RAC MiG Corporation’s MiG 35 and the EADS (European consortium’s) Eurofighter Typhoon still in contention.

They will now be programmed to provide their evaluation fighter jet prototypes for the summer and winter field trials, before short-listing possibly 3 contenders whose financial bids will then be opened.

According to HT, IAF are drawing up the modalities for the field trials to begin in around three months. There will be at least two sets of trials conducted in summer and winter, with the five jets being flown in the snow-capped peaks of Leh, the scorching Rajasthan deserts (probably Jaisalmer) and the humid conditions of South India (probably Bangalore)

This development is bound to sour Indo-French relations especially since IAF have been using the French Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft for several years and France is also collaborating in construction of six Scorpene submarines for the Navy. France was also the first country to sign a civilian nuclear pact with India following the conclusion of the Indo-US nuclear deal. "We have no confirmation from the Indian MoD. We are extremely surprised since there was no technical lacuna in our bid," a French official reportedly stated.

The eventual outcome is likely to be a marathon battle royale for the super lucrative contract valued at between US$10 to $12 billion. The present RPF was for the purchase of 126 MMRCA aircraft for the IAF and speculation is that if the Navy's requirements were also taken into account the eventual figure may well be 200 aircraft. For the time being however, the Navy seems to be zeroing in on the Russian MiG 29k and the naval version of the LCA.
 

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