Matthias Schmidlin, Eurofighter Campaign Director, India in a candid interview to SP’s Aviation underlines the benefits that would accrue to India if it accepts the EADS offer to join the Eurofighter programme. He also elaborates on the European consortium’s interest in the country’s LCA and MMRCA programmes.

SP’s Aviation (SP’s): The European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) Company has invited India to be a part of its prestigious Eurofighter project, offering Indian companies a platform to enhance skills in the aviation field. What are the areas in which EADS would expect the Indian aerospace industry to participate?

Matthias Schmidlin (MS): On behalf of the Eurofighter consortium, EADS invited India to join the Eurofighter programme as a partner because we want India to become a member of the successful Eurofighter family. We are interested in a long-lasting political, industrial and military partnership and, therefore, the door is widely open for India. The four Eurofighter partners have intensive experience in international cooperation because the combat aircraft is developed and manufactured as a quadronational programme from the very beginning.

Opportunities for India’s industrial cooperation in the Eurofighter programme could involve future capabilities of this combat aircraft, such as the development of a new-generation radar, avionics, electronic warfare and so on. Our offset offer, which we delivered on August 4, will leverage the strength of the whole Eurofighter consortium, including strong aerospace and defence players such as EADS, BAE Systems, Finmeccanica, Rolls Royce, MTU and others. This will give India access to an attractive international sourcing network of unparalleled scope. On the other side, EADS is ready to support India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme in order to make it a real success.

SP’s: To what extent do you think this move is likely to improve chances of EADS winning the contract for India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA)?

MS: I am convinced that our invitation to India to become a new partner of the Eurofighter family was the right decision. We are a strong and reliable partner and look forward to establish closer relations with this rapidly growing country. All in all, I see a win-win-situation on three levels.

Politically, the procurement decision in favour of the Eurofighter Typhoon will strengthen India’s political relations with Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK as Europe’s leading industrial nations. The four nations, the four air forces and the four Eurofighter partner companies will provide full support to stimulate economic growth and industrial development in India.

Industrially, the Eurofighter partner companies will provide the most attractive industrial partnership to India, paving the way for the country to become a self-reliant global aerospace and defence player.

Operationally, Eurofighter is a multi-role combat aircraft which employs the latest technologies to deliver outstanding operational performance with the flexibility and development potential to fulfill operational commanders’ needs for the next decades. Eurofighter is acknowledged for its air-to-air superiority and combined with its outstanding air-to-ground capabilities, it delivers the required mission effectiveness to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

SP’s: Is the offer for participation open to the private sector as well?

MS: The offer stands primarily with state-owned companies, but we will also cooperate with private companies as well as small and medium-sized suppliers. Till date, we have signed more than 20 MoUs with Indian defence companies and we are talking to them to explore common business opportunities for the benefit of both sides.