Germany says EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon offer very competitive

New Delhi, Dec 8 (PTI) Exuding confidence about winning the Indian Air Force contract for 126 fighter jets, Germany today said the multi-nation EADS Cassidian had made a "very competitive offer" that includes technology transfer by every partner. The EADS offer for the Eurofighter Typhoon is the "best for India", Germany's acting Ambassador Cord Meier-Klodt told reporters here. The EADS offer was backed by four nations and four aerospace and defence industries with about 400 firms who are all prepared to handover long term technology transfer, he said. "This makes us confident that we have a very competitive offer," Meier-Klodt said. Of the original six bidders, the defence ministry has short-listed European consortium EADS Cassidian and French Dassault Aviation for the estimated USD 11 billion contract to supply 126 fighters to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The two rival aircraft in contention for the contract are the Eurofighter Typhoon and the French Rafale. The commercial bids of both companies were opened here last month and the winner is expected to be announced later this month. The offset clause in the tender requires the winner to reinvest or source 50 per cent of the deal amount in the Indian defence industry. The 643-point technical and flight evaluation tests eliminated the F-16 Super Viper IN and the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, made by US firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing; the Gripen NG made by Swedish firm Saab and the Russian MiG-35. PTI