The Navy had floated a global tender for 57 carrier aircraft and four aircraft companies have responded. The aircraft under consideration are the MIG-29k, the Gripen, Rafael, and the Boeing F-18. Out of these the MIG- 29 has been tried out as it has maintenance problems. The plane is not likely to be considered, the Gripen is still in the testing stage and has been ruled out. The real contest is between the Dassault Rafael and the Boeing F-18 and both aircraft manufacturers are confident of bagging the contract.
The Navy will shortly carry out extensive trials on shore and the
carrier, to test the capability of the Rafael and the F-18.The Boeing aircraft company has already stolen a march over its rival by carrying out a computer simulation of the operations of its aircraft from the Vikramaditya. The French feel that their plane is ideally suited for the Vikramaditya, as the Rafael already operates from the Charles De Gaulle, which is a smaller aircraft carrier than the Indian warship.However no decision as yet has been taken and whatever happens, the political contours will have to be taken into account. The IAF already has 36 Rafael's in service and though the F-18 is a front runner, the Modi government may still go in for an improved version of the Russian plane only because India cannot afford to jettison the Russians completely.
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