Embraer to supply small jets for IAF

Thursday, 13 March 2003, 20:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: India has cleared a bid by Brazil's Embraer, one of the world's leading aerospace companies, for supplying five small aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for ferrying dignatories. Defence Minister George Fernandes Wednesday said aircraft offered by three firms, including Embraer and Canada's Bombardier, had been short-listed after a technical evaluation. The third firm was from France. These aircraft were then compared only on the basis of "commercial bids and the final selection of Embraer was done on the basis of the lowest price," Fernandes said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. Although Fernandes did not specify the aircraft offered by Embraer, recent reports have suggested the Brazilian firm planned to sell its Legacy business jet to the IAF. Embraer had also displayed the jet at the Aero India exhibition in Bangalore last month. India's Jet Airways announced an agreement with Embraer for purchasing 10 Embraer 175 aircraft, with options for 10 additional aircraft, in July last year. The order is valued at about $260 million. Fernandes said Bombardier had made a representation to the Indian government for re-evaluation of their aircraft Challenger 604 and the Canadair Special Edition. "The Challenger 604 had earlier not been considered as it did not meet the laid down technical specifications. The firm had not offered the Special Edition in response to the (Indian) tender," he said. "Re-evaluation after opening of the commercial bids could not be agreed to," he said. The IAF top brass had expressed the need for small jets for a special squadron that ferries VIPs like the prime minister and defence minister a few years ago. This squadron is currently equipped with some aging Boeings and Avro aircraft.
Source: IANS
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