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Airbus A330 MRTT has the upper hand imo
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The deal for procuring six mid-air refueller aircraft for the Air Force has entered its last phase with the IAF completing the field trials of the planes on offer.
Airbus Military, one of the contenders of the deal, today said the winter trials of the aircraft were concluded by the end of the last year during which the IAF checked the planes against all its specific requirements.
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Air Force had issued the original tender for mid-air refueller a couple of years ago, but it was cancelled following Finance Ministry's objection to the cost put forth by Airbus Military, whose A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft was selected for awarding the contract.
The tender was re-issued in September 2010 and Airbus Military- a European consortium company- applied for it again.
The firm is now pitted against the Russian Ilyushin, which has offered the IL-78 for the contract.
IAF is already operating six of the IL-78 refuellers in its fleet for over half a decade now and the squadron is based at Agra air force base.
The new midair refuellers are required by the IAF to augment its existing IL-78 fleet. The air-to-air refuellers are used by air forces for refuelling its fighters and transport aircraft while in flight to enhance the endurance of these platforms.
The midair refuellers are a major force multiplier for air forces so as to keep their fighter jets in air to respond to security threats for longer periods of time.
This time, the IAF has asked the global manufacturers of midair refuellers to submit their proposals as per life cycle costs.
Deal for procuring mid-air refueller aircraft in last phase - The Economic Times
===
The deal for procuring six mid-air refueller aircraft for the Air Force has entered its last phase with the IAF completing the field trials of the planes on offer.
Airbus Military, one of the contenders of the deal, today said the winter trials of the aircraft were concluded by the end of the last year during which the IAF checked the planes against all its specific requirements.
---
Air Force had issued the original tender for mid-air refueller a couple of years ago, but it was cancelled following Finance Ministry's objection to the cost put forth by Airbus Military, whose A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft was selected for awarding the contract.
The tender was re-issued in September 2010 and Airbus Military- a European consortium company- applied for it again.
The firm is now pitted against the Russian Ilyushin, which has offered the IL-78 for the contract.
IAF is already operating six of the IL-78 refuellers in its fleet for over half a decade now and the squadron is based at Agra air force base.
The new midair refuellers are required by the IAF to augment its existing IL-78 fleet. The air-to-air refuellers are used by air forces for refuelling its fighters and transport aircraft while in flight to enhance the endurance of these platforms.
The midair refuellers are a major force multiplier for air forces so as to keep their fighter jets in air to respond to security threats for longer periods of time.
This time, the IAF has asked the global manufacturers of midair refuellers to submit their proposals as per life cycle costs.
Deal for procuring mid-air refueller aircraft in last phase - The Economic Times