French arms industry company Dassault Aviation is planning to bid for a contract to supply 126 new fighter aircraft to India.
Dassault Aviation said in a statement late on Feb. 27 that its bid would center on the fourth-generation Rafale fighter, for which it has yet to find an export market.
India aims to replace its ageing fleet of MiG-21 fighters, and the worldââ¬â¢s arms giants are limbering up for the battle which could land them a deal worth an estimated $9 billion (7.6 billion euros).
Dassault Aviation noted it had supplied combat aircraft to India for more than 50 years, mostly recently the Mirage 2000, which is now out of production.
ââ¬ÂHowever, we have the firm belief the Rafale new generation Omnirole fighter answers to the operational needs of the Indian Air Force,ââ¬Â said Charles Edelstenne, chief executive of Dassault Aviation
The European defense and aircraft group EADS has already announced that it will bid for the contract, proposing its Eurofighter.
U.S. giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin are also in the running, with their F-18 and F-16 aircraft respectively, alongside Russiaââ¬â¢s MiG-29 and the Gripen, made by Swedenââ¬â¢s Saab.
Refale to India
Dassault Aviation said in a statement late on Feb. 27 that its bid would center on the fourth-generation Rafale fighter, for which it has yet to find an export market.
India aims to replace its ageing fleet of MiG-21 fighters, and the worldââ¬â¢s arms giants are limbering up for the battle which could land them a deal worth an estimated $9 billion (7.6 billion euros).
Dassault Aviation noted it had supplied combat aircraft to India for more than 50 years, mostly recently the Mirage 2000, which is now out of production.
ââ¬ÂHowever, we have the firm belief the Rafale new generation Omnirole fighter answers to the operational needs of the Indian Air Force,ââ¬Â said Charles Edelstenne, chief executive of Dassault Aviation
The European defense and aircraft group EADS has already announced that it will bid for the contract, proposing its Eurofighter.
U.S. giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin are also in the running, with their F-18 and F-16 aircraft respectively, alongside Russiaââ¬â¢s MiG-29 and the Gripen, made by Swedenââ¬â¢s Saab.
Refale to India