Moscow
25 December 2005
The MiG Corporation of Russia says the "biggest
contract being executed today" with India will be for the supply of MiG 29K
and MiG 29KUB fighters.
The Russian manufacturer will also bid for India's medium multi role
combat aircraft (MMRCA) project besides cooperating with India in the
joint development of next (fifth) generation aircraft.
An agreement regarding the "option" for "additional purchase" of 30 MiG
29K and MiG 29KUB could be expected in the coming months, said Mr
Vladimir P Vypryazhkin, deputy director-general and general designer.
"We are expecting India to take [the] final decision in 2006-'07," he told
this newspaper. The MiG 29KUB is a twin-seater. India has already
placed an order for acquiring the MiG 29Ks and MiG 29KUBs.
Dwelling on future projects, Mr Vypryazhkin said the MiG Corporation
would cooperate with India in the joint development and production of the
fifth generation aircraft, which will according to him involve "15 to 20
years of joint work."
The Russian manufacturer would also bid for India's medium multi role
combat aircraft (MMRCA) project. India is likely to purchase 126 numbers
of such aircraft at an estimated cost ranging from six to nine billion-
dollars.
Besides MiG, the other models and aerospace companies expected to bid
for the global tender include the F16 from Lockheed and the Mirage 2000
from Dassault. The MMRCA project would span 10 to 12 years.
Mr Vypryazhkin said the Russian aircraft manufacturer has proposed the
"MiG 35" in a bid to stave off the "tense competition". The research and
development on the MiG 35 are nearing completion.
"India has sent the request for information (RFI), we are now waiting for the
request for proposal (RFP). We are now waiting formain phase fo tender,"
he told this newspaper. The global tender is expected in the first half of
2006.
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