IAF’s MMRCA tender: Pentagon prevents Saab-IAI collaboration

With field trials for the 126-aircraft Indian Air Force's (IAF) medium range multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender due to begin shortly, competition appears to be warming up considerably, though away from Indian shores. It appears that the US administration may have compelled Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) to pull out from a proposed collaboration with Swedish firm Saab Gripen to develop an advanced model of their multi-role JAS-39 fighter.

The tender is one of the largest on the global market, expected to be worth around $12 billion, and has attracted entries from European concerns Eurofighter, for the Typhoon, French Dassault, for its Rafale and Saab Gripen for its JAS-39IN. Also participating is Russian design bureau MiG RAC, with the MiG-35 - an enhanced version of the MiG-29.

Two American firms Boeing Co, with its F/A-18 Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin, with its F/A-16IN Fighting Falcon are also in the race. 

According to reports in the Israeli media, the Israeli ministry of defence has asked IAI to back out of its deal with the Swedes as the Pentagon has expressed concern that American technology - used by Israel - could also be integrated with the Gripen version on offer to the India.

Reports also suggest that the Pentagon and the Israeli ministry of defence were in discussions for all of 18 months before IAI was asked to withdraw from the tender.

Permission for the collaboration was denied ostensibly on the ground of technology transfer though it is being surmised that the real reason may have been financial. It is felt that the US was concerned that if the IAI competed for the deal along with Saab, it would compel the two US companies in the fray to lower their prices.