EADS aims to sell 300 Eurofighters, focus on Asia

New Delhi - The manufacturer of the Eurofighter Typhoon jet Friday said it was hoping to sell 300 fighter aircraft in the next 20 years with India representing nearly half of the potential orders. European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company NV (EADS) said there were "substantial" growth opportunities in the world market with India playing a "crucial" role.

In one of the biggest defence deals globally, New Delhi is to buy 126 multi-role combat aircraft that may be worth as much as 11 billion dollars.

"We evaluate the global demand for combat aircraft in the next 20 years at around 800 units. For Eurofighter Typhoon, we target 300 additional export contracts, with Asia representing a substantial part of these orders," Enzo Casolini, chief executive officer of Eurofighter GmbH, said in a statement.

According to EADS officials, the 300 export contracts were inclusive of the potential Indian order.

Bernhard Gerwert, chief executive of Military Air Systems, part of EADS, said that the company was keen on winning the Indian order.

"We are well positioned in the ongoing tender for the acquisition of 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) because the Eurofighter Typhoon is the ideal answer to the threats that India faces," Gerwert said.

The EADS officials were speaking ahead of Defexpo 2010,India's largest international military exhibition beginning February 15.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is competing with Boeing Co's F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin Corp's F-16, Russia's MiG-35, France's Dassault Rafale and Sweden's Gripen for the deal.

The companies submitted their bids in April 2008 to supply the jets as the Indian Air Force, which flies mainly Russian-made jets, is seeking to strengthen its fighter squadron fleet.

India is in the process of modernizing its defense forces, and several deals are in the pipeline, making it one of the world's leading arms' importers.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/308875,eads-aims-to-sell-300-eurofighters-focus-on-asia.html.