The Indian Air Force (IAF) will not accept any last-minute offers from contenders for the multibillion-dollar deal for purchase of 126 medium-multirole combat aircraft (M-MRCA).
“No offers for upgrades or changes in the original bid submitted by the six aircraft companies would be allowed as their aircraft have been judged on the basis of capabilities offered in the original bid and their performance in the field trials,” IAF sources added.
IAF has even rejected a bidder’s proposal to equip its warplanes with a more powerful jet engine.
A report on the process of evaluation for the deal has been submitted to the Indian Defence Ministry, which is expected to start contract negotiations soon after going through technical evaluation and field trial reports of the six aircraft.
The six aircraft that are competing for the deal are Lockheed’s F-16, Boeing F/A-18 E/F, Dassault’s Rafale, Saab Gripen, Rosoboronexport MiG 35 and EADS Eurofighter Typhoon.
India is planning to procure 126 M-MRCA for IAF in an $11bn deal.
