Asia

Asia

Contenders for Indian fighter deal to show in force at Aero India 2011

02 February 2011 03:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. All six participants of a tender to supply 126 light fighter jets to the Indian air force will showcase full flight displays at Aero India 2011 air show, the organizers said, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.

Six major aircraft makers â€” Lockheed and Boeing from the United States, Russia’s MiG, France’s Dassault, Sweden’s Saab and the EADS consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies â€” are in contention to win the $11 billion tender.

Each company is expected to bring along at least two competing aircraft as well as competent teams and flight simulators for display.

Russia’s contender, the MiG-35 Fulcrum-F, is an export version of the MiG-29M OVT fighter jet. It is a highly maneuverable air superiority fighter, which has already won high acclaim among aircraft industry and military experts.

The fighter is powered by RD-33 OVT thrust vectoring engines. The RD-33 OVT engines provide superior maneuverability and enhance the fighter’s performance in close air engagements.

India is expected to make its choice in July this year.

Moscow earlier said if MiG-35 wins the tender, Russia is ready to transfer all key technology to India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and provide assistance for the production of the aircraft in the country.

Aero India-2011, which will be held in the southern city of Bangalore on February 11-15, is most likely to attract the record number of leading manufacturers, vendors and suppliers from 63 countries.