Russia on Monday said that its new Mig-35 fighter had passed IAF’s three evaluation tests and matched all requirements listed by New Delhi in the $10 billion tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA).
“The requirements of the tender are quite rigid, but we have already held three evaluation tests, and we believe we have offered an aircraft which entirely corresponds to the tender requirements”, a senior official of the Rosoboronexport State Corporation Sergei Kornyev said. His comments come as India is believed to be in the process of shortlisting the bidders. Major aircraft manufacturers, including the French Dassault Aviation with its Rafale jet fighter, US Lockheed Martin with its F-16 Falcon and Boeing with F-18 Super Hornet, the Swedish Saab with its most up-to-date Gripen fighter and Eurofighter are in the fray along with MiG-35 Fulcrum-F. “Of course, the buyers will take the final decision. We are sure that we will participate in this tender until the end, and we hope we will win”, Kornyev was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. Mig-35 Fulcrum-F with thrust-vectoring engines is a highly manoeuvrable single seater multi-role air superiority fighter is an export version of the MiG-29M OVT (Fulcrum F). The plane was first officially presented at the Aero India 2007 air show in Bengaluru.