Rafale wins IAF's $ 10.4 billion deal to supply 126 jets

New Delhi: French company Dassault Aviation's Rafale has won the $10.4 billion deal to supply 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

According to sources, Rafale won the multi-billion dollar deal as it was found to be similar to the French Mirage 2000 fighter jet, which is already being operated by the IAF.

Rafale beat the Eurofighter Typhoon to bag the deal. Rafale was preferred as its commercial bid was lower than Eurofighter Typhoon. The Eurofighter bid was backed by four partner nations - Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.

French company Dassault Aviation's Rafale has won the $10.4 billion deal to supply 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) to the Indian Air Force (IAF). According to sources, Rafale won the multi-billion dollar deal as it was found to be similar to the French Mirage 2000 fighter jet, which is being operated by the IAF. Rafale beat the Eurofighter Typhoon to bag the deal. The IAF will buy the first 18 aircraft off the shelf while the other 118 will be manufactured in partnership with an Indian company.
A Dassault Rafale fighter jet takes part in a flying display during the 49th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Paris June 22, 2011.
A Dassault Rafale fighter jet takes part in a flying display during the 49th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Paris June 24, 2011.
A Dassault Rafale fighter jet flies upside down during a flying display during the 49th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Paris June 21, 2011.
The Dassault Rafale aircraft performs during the Air Show in Sion September 17, 2011.
A Dassault Rafale fighter takes part in a flying display during the 49th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Paris June 25, 2011.
The Dassault Rafale aircraft is ready for take-off during the Air Show in Sion September 17, 2011.
A Rafale fighter jet performs during the first day of the Dubai Airshow November 13, 2011.
France's Rafale fighter jet performs during the MAKS International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, August 21, 2011.
A Dassault Rafale fighter takes part in a flying display during the 49th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Paris June 26, 2011.
A Rafale fighter jet performs during the first day of the Dubai Airshow November 13, 2011.
A Rafale fighter jet uses its after burners as it makes a catapult launch, where in two seconds the jet goes from 0 to 250 kms per hour, aboard France's flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier March 28, 2011.
A Rafale fighter jet makes a catapult launch on the flight deck, where in two seconds the jet goes from 0 to 250 kms per hour, aboard France's flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier March 28, 2011.
A Dassault Rafale fighter jet takes part in a flying display during the 49th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Paris June 24, 2011.
A Dassault Rafale fighter jet takes part in a flying display during the 49th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Paris June 23, 2011.
The Dassault Rafale aircraft performs during the Air Show in Sion September 17, 2011.
A Rafale fighter jet prepares a catapult launch aboard France's flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier March 26, 2011.
A Rafale fighter jet takes off from France's flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier March 27, 2011.

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According to the Request for Proposal (RFP) the IAF will buy the first 18 aircraft off the shelf in the next 36 months while the other 118 will be manufactured at HAL facilities in Bangalore.

The Rafale fighter entered service with the French Air Force in 2004. It is twin-engine jet, configured for multi-role operations including air defence, ground attack and reconnaissance. The plane can can deliver nine tonnes of bombs and also fire a range of missiles including anti-ship, air to air, air to ground.

The naval variant of the fighter is also serving with the French Navy.

The IAF had invited bids from military aviation majors to supply 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraf for which six contenders - Russia's MIG- 35, USA's F-16 Falcon (Lockheed Martin), F-18 Hornet (Boeing), Swedish Saab Gripen, European EADS EuroFighter Typhoon and Rafale.

Following lengthy field trials across the globe the Typhoon and Rafale were shortlisted while the rest were rejected as they failed to meet the technical qualifications specified by the IAF.

The process to acquire 126 fighter jests started with the issuing of a global tender in 2007.

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