Airbus Military mulls plan to bag multi-billion India deal

Madrid, Oct 18 (PTI) As India seeks to boost its
strategic reach by inducting more mid-air refuellers,
European defence major EADS has announced that it would
aggressively bid for the multi-billion reopened contract by
offering latest technology.
India is seeking to buy six more air-to-air refueller
to augment its fleet of six Russian IL-78 tankers and the
European consortium Airbus Military said it would offer its
new state-of-the-art Multi-role Transport Tanker aircraft A330
MRTT "at competitive prices."
The European tanker would come with Aerial Refueling
Boom System (ARBS), a technology which only the Americans have
so far. The ARBS system enables refueling even in adverse
weather and day or night.
It uses the stereoscopic vision and laser based
infrared lighting system -- a distinct advantage for India as
it is set to acquire 126 advanced fighters. "The Russian
refuellers with IAF don't have this capability," Airbus
officials said.
"We are offering the new A330 MRTT as it provides the
best value for money," said Peter Scoffham, Vice President,
Defence Capability Marketing for Airbus Military.
"No other aircraft comes close to A300 MRTT as
aircrafts designed in 1970's cannot be compared with those
being built now," Scoffham told PTI at the Airbus Military
facility in Getafe, a metropolitan area in southern zone of
Spanish city of Madrid.
"The new technology on offer to India bridges the gap
between strategic and tactical tanker," he said.
India has so far relied on the Russian technology in
acquiring its first air tankers, but the defence planners are
now insisting that the IAF be armed with the most updated
technology.
India has issued Fresh Request for Proposals (RFP) for
six in-flight refuelling aircraft, reviving the tender worth
around Rs 6,000 crore that was cancelled in January.
Besides the Airbus, the American Boeing and Russians
are in the contention for one of the biggest military tenders
to be floated by India.
Even as Scoffham refused to give details of the new
RFP, he said "India has emerged as one of the largest defence
market in the world", and like all other major defence
industries, "Airbus Military is looking to India to sell its
products which are the best in its categories".
A300 MRTT has comprehensive AAR system, including both
Hose and Drogue and the ARBS.
Following its last-minute failure to ink the lucrative
deal earlier this year, Airbus Military, a business unit of
Airbus responsible for all military transport aircraft, said
the civil and military certification for the A330 MRTT
strengthens its case.
Airbus Military, which is fighting to shake off
negative publicity from the delayed hulking gray A400M
turboprop, has positioned the A300 MRTT as "bridging the gap
between strategic and tactical" aircraft.
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS),
had almost bagged the contract earlier, but the finance
ministry had reservations labelling the contract as too
expensive.