European consortium Eurofighter expects the global combat aircraft export market to reach 800 units in 20 years, and it expects to deliver 250 of those planes, said a senior executive.
Eurofighter, a four-nation consortium of EADS, representing Germany and Spain, Britain’s BAE Systems and Italy’s Finmeccanica is in the race for an US$11 billion Indian contract for 126 fighter jets, one of the largest export orders in the history of defence.
It is competing with Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen, Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Dassault’s Rafale, Lockheed’s F-16 and Russia’s MiG-35 to win the fighter contract, Reuters reports.
“India and other nations in Asia are important markets for combat aircraft,” Enzo Casolini, chief executive of Eurofighter, said in a statement issued at India’s biennial air show.
“All nations are watching closely how India is running this tough competition and will evaluate the final result in every detail,” he said.
