DASSAULT RAFALE BAGGED THE MMRCA DEAL

                   A French company named Dassault Rafale today bagged India's biggest contract ever for supplying 126 combat aircraft for the air force. The mentioned company has edged out its European competitor EADS in the multi-billion dollar deal. 

                   Eventually the French firm has been declared as the lowest bidder, according to which it will get the contract under India's defence procurement procedure.

                   "The French firm Dassault Rafale has emerged as the L-1 (lowest bidder) and cheaper than its European rival EADS (maker of Eurofighter) in the tender and will be offered to supply the aircraft to the IAF," the source said. 

                       The representatives of Dassault Rafale here were informed about the development in the morning and all the further negotiations on price and other important things will be held with them in the next 10-15 days. 

                         But this historic contract will be signed in the next fiscal year only. According to the Request for Proposal (RFP), the winner of the contract will have to supply 18 of the 126 aircraft to the IAF in 36 months from its facilities and the remaining would be produced at HAL facilities in Bangalore. 

                          It was not that easy for the Dassault Rafale, as six companies including American F-16 and F-18, Russian MiG 35, Swedish Saab Gripen along with Eurofighter and Dassault Rafale were in the race in the beginning. So it was a pretty tough battle to win for the French company.

                         Actually in the month of April last year, the defence ministry shortlisted Dassault and EADS, evicting the American, Russian and Swedish bids. It was a close call at the end.

                         The process was started with the issuing of a global tender in 2007 after which all the six contenders were subjected to extensive field evaluation trails by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at several locations across the globe.