Were taking Eurofighters flown by the German Air Force for the trials. And the idea is to conduct weapon trials in the United Kingdom using their aircraft. This will give the Indian Air Force a chance to interact with two other forces using the Eurofighter, said Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of EADS Military Air Systems. He was talking to Express on the sidelines of the Royal Air Tattoo, an air show involving NATO air forces at Fairford, London.
We see India as a partner rather than just as another prospective market. We want your country to play a role in future EADS programmes.
Were open to the possibility of India becoming a manufacturing hub for our future exports, Gerwert said.
As a first step EADS will launch its aviation research centre in Bangalore.
We have already entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with L&T. EADS will recruit 200 engineers in the next two years who will work on avionics and sensors, he said adding that the manufacture of certain critical components could be totally offset to India.
These parts will come directly to our assembly line like other components reaching us from partner countries UK, Spain or Italy. This will also give India a chance to showcase its technological prowess in handling complex technology, he pointed out.
EADS has also decided to support Indias effort to fly an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft.
The LCA team recently visited Munich and held discussions with EADS to identify possible grounds where the two firms could meet to support the LCA programme. Indias LCA is facing cost and time overruns following a host of technical and technological issues.
According to Gerwert, EADS will help in LCA flight evaluation and tests. We are ready to provide engine technology which no other country will be ready to. The benefits we plan to give India are unparalleled, he said.
But according to IAF sources, Eurofighter is facing a tough flight plan as it costs more than its competitors.
There are several positives like a modern airframe, avionics etc. We need to wait for the field trials to be over before any conclusion can be drawn,