MMRCA deal wrap-up in 4 weeks, says IAF Chief

BANGALORE: The fate of one of the largest and most ambitious acquisitions of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA,) would be known in the next four weeks."We are calculating very hard. There is a lot of work going on. I expect that in another four weeks, we should be able to wrap it up”,Air Chief Marshall N A K Browne said.The Air Chief, who took part in the 51st conference of the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) in the city, spoke to mediapersons about the Rs 42,000-crore military acquisition of 126 MMRCA fighter aircraft. The two contenders in the race are the EADS’ Eurofighter and the Rafale by Dassault.Informing the media that the process involved complex calculations, which needed constant verification, he said that he was unable to predict any cost escalation of the programmes, if any. The commercial bids for the MMRCA opened in November this year.When queried about the plan to acquire six additional C-130J Super Hercules from Lockheed Martin, Browne informed that the process should be concluded by January. Browne also shared two Mirage fighter aircraft would be sent to France as part of the upgrade of the aircraft.“The trial report is being formulated,” Browne said while commenting on the IAF plans to buy 197 Light helicopters, and also shared that the ‘issues’ that required clarifications were resolved.