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While the Indian Air Force (IAF) has recently placed an additional order of 20 indigenous ‘Tejas’ light combat aircraft (LCA) with the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), it has expressed the need to upgrade the ‘Tejas’ LCA as early as possible.
At present, only two firms, namely European aerospace company Eurojet and US aerospace firm General Electric are the bidders for the $750 million order for 99 engines for ‘Tejas’ LCA. The Indian government is in the process of evaluating the technicalities of both the engines.
While both the international firms are pushing hard for the deal, the final decision rests with the Indian Defence Ministry which is gauging what is best for the IAF from the point of view of state-owned HAL, which is making the ‘Tejas’ LCA and taking inputs from Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as well as the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
Analysts feel IAF may get victimized due to a variety of reasons and may have to accept the US General Electric’s F-414 engine. One of the factors is the price. The Eurojet EJ200 is more expensive that the US firms F-414 engine.
As for the current optimism and bonding in the Indo-US military relations, US has a better chance of clinching the deal. Besides, the outcome of the deal will have an effect on the $10 billion order for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) which India has initiated. Experts feel that Indian government would opt for the aircraft which is powered by the same engine as ‘Tejas’ LCA.
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