SPS Aviation_5 Issue 5 May 2014 | Page 18

military    OEM Mirage 2000H, state-of-the-art combat aircraft designed, developed and produced by Dassault Aviation was inducted in iaf in 1985 BUSINESS AVIATION CONVENTION & EXHIBITION Photograph: Sp guide pubns OCTOBER 21, 22, 23 | ORLANDO, FL Learn More at www.nbaa.org 16 ISSUE 5  • 2014 In February 2011, along with the other five competitors, Dassault Aviation demonstrated the Rafale at Aero India held at the IAF Station, Yelahanka on the outskirts of Bengaluru. On January 31, 2012 in five years after global tender was floated, the IAF finally declared the Rafale as the lowest bidder and technically the preferred option in the MMRCA competition. Under the proposed contract, 18 aircraft would be supplied to the IAF by 2015 in flyaway condition, while the remaining 108 would be manufactured by HAL in India under transfer of technology agreement. The contract for 126 aircraft along with services and spares packages could be worth as much as $20 billion or even more. The IAF also has an option for another 63 aircraft. Unfortunately, over two years have gone by since the selection of the Dassault Rafale was made public, for one reason or another, negotiations have dragged on [