SOURCE: AFI
The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) delegation was warmly received today by Mr. Jorge Tamarit Degenhardt, CEO of Eurofighter Typhoon, at the company’s chalet during the Paris Air Show 2025. The meeting, held amidst the global aerospace showcase, focused on key policy issues, the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), and prospects for enhanced collaboration through indigenisation, reflecting India’s growing emphasis on self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
Discussions highlighted the potential role of the Eurofighter Typhoon in bolstering India’s aerospace capabilities and meeting its strategic requirements. The Typhoon, a twin-engine, multirole fighter jet developed by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, has been proposed to the Indian Air Force (IAF) under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender for 110 jets. This tender, part of India’s ambitious plan to modernize its air force and address a critical squadron shortfall, underscores the IAF’s need for advanced 4.5-generation fighters to replace aging fleets like the MiG-21s, Jaguars, and Mirage 2000s.
The Eurofighter team shared valuable insights into how the Typhoon platform could align with India’s operational needs, leveraging its proven combat record and advanced features, including the E-Scan AESA radar and integration with weapons like the MBDA Meteor and Storm Shadow. However, a notable challenge remains: Eurofighter has yet to finalize a partnership with an Indian company to support local manufacturing and technology transfer, a key requirement under India’s “Make in India” initiative and the DAP.
The SIDM delegation emphasized the importance of indigenisation, urging Eurofighter to collaborate with Indian firms to establish a robust domestic production ecosystem. While Eurofighter has expressed willingness to work with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) or private players, no concrete partnership has been formalized. This delay could impact its competitiveness against rivals like Dassault’s Rafale, which benefits from an existing foothold with the IAF and Navy, and other contenders such as Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin’s F-21.
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