SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is intensifying its efforts to expedite the procurement of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA). The force has urged the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to prioritize the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the MRFA tender, which has been pending since last year.
The AoN is crucial as it grants budgetary approvals necessary to fund the program. With this clearance, the IAF can proceed with issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to interested global aviation giants. The tender has already seen participation from around eight contenders in the initial Request for Information (RFI) phase issued over five years ago. The RFP will provide an opportunity for these companies to reassess their offerings and either submit more competitive bids or withdraw from the competition.
The IAF has estimated a budget of approximately $20 billion for the acquisition of 114 jets. This figure underscores the substantial financial commitment required for this modernization project. It’s worth noting that the previous Medium Combat Aircraft (MRCA) tender, which eventually led to the selection of the Rafale, was allocated ?55,000 crores (US$6.6 billion) at 2008 prices for 126 aircraft. Given the inflation and technological advancements over the past 16 years, the projected cost for the MRFA tender is significantly higher.
The IAF’s push for a swift decision on the MRFA tender reflects the urgent need to bolster its fighter fleet. The procurement process has been marked by delays, and the IAF is keen to streamline the acquisition to meet its operational requirements.
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