India to induct new combat jets from 2016
March 19th, 2012 - 8:01 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Come 2016 and India will start inducting the first of the 126 combat jets it is purchasing for nearly $20 billion, parliament was informed Monday.
The first squadron of the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) will comprise 18 Rafale aircraft that will be purchased in a fly-away condition from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. The remaining aircraft will be progressively manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, with the last of them being inducted before the end of 2023.
The Rafale was chosen after beating off stiff competition from five other aircraft.
“The first squadron of MMRCA consisting of 18 aircraft is expected to be inducted within three to four years of signing the contract,” Antony told the Lok Sabha during question hour.
The deal is expected to be sealed before the end of 2012, as cost negotiations are on with Dassault Aviation.
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- Manmohan, Hollande talk India's $20-bn plane deal - Jun 20, 2012
- France's Dassault wins India's $10.4bn warplane deal (Intro Roundup) - Jan 31, 2012
- France's Dassault wins India's $10.4 bn combat jet deal (Roundup) - Jan 31, 2012
- Defence ministry panel to consider combat jet deal next month - Sep 22, 2011
- Price talks for 126 jets to begin this month: IAF chief - Mar 10, 2011
- India opens combat plane tender bids; cost to go up - Nov 04, 2011
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- Combat jet tender: India to finalise lowest bidder in six weeks - Jul 26, 2011
- India to pick combat fighter by mid-December - Nov 18, 2011
- India set for last lap in $10.4-bn combat plane tender - Nov 03, 2011
- Defence modernisation: Critical deals materialised, others faced time overruns (2011 in retrospect) - Dec 27, 2011
Tags: antony, combat aircraft, combat jets, dassault aviation, fly, french manufacturer, hindustan aeronautics, India, Lok Sabha, march 19, negotiations, New Delhi, parliament, rafale aircraft, squadron, stiff competition