Airbus Military set to bag Rs8,500-cr IAF order for 6 mid-air refuellers
08 Jan 2013
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will buy as many as six Airbus Military A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) for its next generation of midair refuelling tankers. These would replace IAF's ageing fleet of Russia made IL 78 Mid Air Refuelling Systems.
The order if awarded will be of an estimated value of Rs8,500 crore ($1.55 billion) at current exchange rates.
''Airbus Military is pleased to confirm that it has been selected by the Government of India as the preferred bidder to supply its A330 MRTT Multi Role Tanker Transport to the Indian Air Force (IAF),'' the European company said.
''Detailed negotiations will now begin which, it is expected, will lead to the award of a final production contract for an envisaged six aircraft in 2013,'' Airbus Military said in a statement released late on Monday.
The company said the selection process included completion of extensive flight demonstrations in India by the A330 MRTT during which the aircraft refuelled multiple types of IAF fighters and operated from the high-altitude IAF base at Leh.
Also, reports quoting IAF sources said the twin-engine MRTT was found to be cheaper in overall costs against its competitor, the Russian IL 78 MIDAS, which also was in the reckoning.
