(Asien) Indiens Luftwaffe

[Jacks]

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The Indian government has given the air force a green light to purchase 126 multi-role aircraft, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi said Feb. 7.

“At the moment, the government has cleared the purchase of 126 aircraft. We are taking information from four countries, the United States, France, Sweden and Russia,” Tyagi told reporters on the fringes of an aero-space seminar. “We are seeking information (on various aircraft). It could be single engine or twin engine (jets). The field is right open.”

“Once we get the information, we will go ahead and seek requests for proposals. We will study those proposals and carry out a technical evaluation .... Then we will do commercial negotiations,” Tyagi said.

All the aircraft would be bought from a single manufacturer, he said, adding,” We cannot buy half from one and half from another because it increases our difficulties.”

France’s Dassault and U.S. giant Lockheed have long been considered frontrunners to upgrade the Indian air force.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has about 1,500 aircraft, but has lost a number jets, particularly Russian-made MiG-21s, which have been nicknamed “flying coffins” in India.

Tyagi said there was no fixed timeframe for the acquisitions but, “as chief of air staff, I want it today.”

He refused to put a price on the acquisitions.

“It’s too early because each aircraft comes with a lot of systems, weapons, so I cannot even hazard a guess,” he said.

The seminar precedes India’s annual air show which opens in Bangalore on Feb. 9. Lockheed Martin is showcasing F-16 fighters alongside Russia’s Sukhois, MiG-29 and MiG-21 jets and Dassault’s Mirage 2000.
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Gerüchte über den Kauf von neuen Kampfflugzeguen gibt es schon länger und immer spielten dabei die Mirage 2000-5 und auch die Rafale den Hauptpart.
Lange hielt sich das auch Gerücht das Indien Mirage 2000 D kauft.
Aber die Zeichen verdichten sich das die Mirage 2000-5 das rennen machen wird und dies wäre auch ein logischerr Schritt da die indische Luftwaffe sehr zufrieden ist mit der Mirage 2000 und dies auch den logistischen Aufwand in Grenzen halten würde.