India's choice of MMCA to be known by month end

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) India's choice of the Medium
-Multirole Combat Aircraft(MMCA) under its largest-ever
military fighter deal for procuring 126 such planes at an
estimated USD 11 billion is expected to be known by the
"end of this month".
"We are looking to start the commercial negotiations
by the end of this month," Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said at
an event at Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) on Thursday.
Under the Defence Procurement procedure (DPP), the
Ministry holds commercial negotiations with the company
offering the lowest price for the product on offer and meeting
the service requirements.
The IAF Chief said if the losing companies don't try
to "put spokes in the wheel", the deal would be signed within
his tenure, which ends in July this year.
The IAF had submitted its field evaluation trial
report on July 30 last year and the Defence Ministry has been
going through it to determine the aircraft meeting IAF's
requirement.
Six aircraft including Russian MiG-35, American F-16
and F/A-18, Swedish Gripen, European Eurofighter and French
Rafale are in the race for the multi-billion dollar contract.
Addressing a press conference last month, Naik had said
"unless dissatisfied vendors put spokes", which may involve
getting clearances from the Central Vigilance Commission or
legal proceedings, the deal would be finalised by September.
The IAF is planning to induct these aircraft to augment
its number and replace the Russian-origin MiG series aircraft,
which are being phased out.
Under the procurement process, the Defence Ministry
negotiates with the company offering the lowest price for the
equipment required by respective services.
Asked by when the IAF was hoping to finalise the USD 2.1
billion Mirage upgrade deal, Naik said, "Hopefully in April."
IAF is looking to upgrade its 51 Mirage-200 aircraft in
collaboration with French Dassault.
The upgrade plan has been stuck for quite some time due
to several issues including on the price quoted by the
French company.
Asked about the present squadron strength of the Indian
Air Force, Naik said it was 34-35 squadrons at the moment and
the force would attain its "full strength" by 2014-15.
The IAF has a sanctioned strength of 39.5 squadrons but
the service has been operating much below its sanctioned
levels for a long time.
It has also proposed to increase its force levels to 45
squadrons, and a proposal in this regard is pending with the
Defence Ministry.
Asked if the budgetary allocation for the defence forces
was enough to meet the modernisation requirements of the
services, the IAF chief said, "It is more than adequate and
there is no dearth of money."
On whether India should have anti-satellite
capabilities, Naik said India was of the view that there
should be no arming in the space.
"But we must have capability to knock out something
which tries to damage our satellites up there," he added.
Asked about the biggest challenge in his tenure as the
Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, Naik said it was to deal
with the issue of Unified (tri-service) Commands including the
Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) as a number of things
were required to "beef up" its requirements.