Ashley J. Tellis

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is entering the final stages of selecting a new medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA). At a cost of about $10 billion for 126 aircraft, the MMRCA competition is the largest Indian fighter tender in years. Eight countries and six companies eagerly await the outcome of the selection process, which has garnered high-profile attention for its sheer size, its international political implications, and its impact on the viability of key aircraft manufacturers. Furthermore, the winner will obtain a long and lucrative association with a rising power and secure a toehold into other parts of India's rapidly modernizing strategic industries. Once selected, the aircraft will play an essential role in India's military modernization as the country transitions from a regional power to a global giant. From summer 2009 to summer 2010, the IAF supervised flight trials of the American Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin F-16IN Super Viper, the French Dassault Aviation Rafale, the Russian RSK MiG's MiG-35, the European Eurofighter Consortium's Typhoon, and the Swedish Saab Gripen NG (Next Generation).

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