미라지-2000이 인도의 전투기 수주경쟁을 포기하겠다는 뉴스가 나왔네요. 표면적인 이유는 인도의 선정과정이 너무 느리고 명확하지 않다는 이유인데, 그런 이유로 90억 달러 수준의 전투기 경쟁을 포기하는 이유가 될런지는 의문입니다. 프랑스내의 미라지-2000 라인은 이미 중단된 상태이고 인도도 미라지-2000에 대해서 별다른 관심을 보이지 않기 때문이 아닌가? 하는 의구심이 드네요. 인도의 전투기 획득계획은 처음에 미라지-2000 도입이 거의 확정적이었지만 현재 인도는 F-18E/F에 관심을 보이고 있고, 유러파이터 까지 경쟁에 뛰어든 상태입니다. 어제는 스웨덴에서 그리펜 도입시 100억 달러 규모의 옵셋을 제시한 상태라서 이래저래 미라지-2000의 입지가 매우 열악해보이네요. 거기에다가 라팔까지 경쟁에 뛰어든 상태이니... 개인적으로는 미라지-2000과 MIG-29 선정 가능성이 가장 높다고 봤었는데 갈수록 예측하기가 어려워지네요. " http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?id=4758§ion_id=3 " French Mirage pulls out of IAF deal   Vishal Thapar CNN-IBN Updated 2052 hrs IST (+GMT 5:30), 02.02.06 Email  Print New Delhi: The dogfight for bagging the Indian order for 126 fighter aircraft has taken a sensational twist. The front-runner, the French Mirage 2000-5, has pulled out, complaining that India is taking too much time to make up its mind on whether it wants the deal or not. The French aviation company Dassault says it cannot wait anymore for the Indians to make up their mind on whether or not to buy the Mirage 2005. The production line for this fighter aircraft in France has closed down and the French have now done some plain-speak. They've conveyed to India that the costs of sustaining an idle production chain - while waiting indefinitely for the notoriously slow Indian defence procurement process to unfold - are prohibitive. However, the Indian authorities are still dilly-dallying. "Now informally, I also keep hearing, but till I hear formally in writing, then we will see," SP Tyagi, Chief of Air Staff, said. Indeed, the French fighter manufacturer is conspicuous by its absence at India's biggest defence exhibition, which is currently running in New Delhi. While the French are still considering whether or not to field their heavier and more expensive Rafale fighter, the withdrawal of the Mirage is very significant for the Indian Air Force. The requirement for 126 fighters was initially worked out by the IAF keeping the Mirage in mind. Bit now, with the deal with Mirage almost called off, new players are trying to fill in the space. Those in the fray are the American F/A 18 Super Hornet and the British Typhoon, which were not on the original list of fighters surveyed by the IAF. And the "gate-crashers" are upbeat about it. "We took a year to crash into the party but we think we've got a very good shot," Michael Rietz, F/A 18 Programme Manager, said. "I would not say it's a gatecrash, I would think it's a worthy competitor," AVM HG Mackay, Royal Air Force officer, said. The line-up of contenders includes Russia's MiG-29, Sweden's Gripen and America's F-16. While it's too early to say who's the new front-runner, there's already some cheeky salesmanship. "We just wanted to see how the F-16 would look in Indian colours. We thought it would look nice," Joe Stout, Spokesman, F-16, said. The stakes are obvious because the IAF's order will be the world's biggest since a decade. With so many twists and turns even before the race has begun, this contest promises to be a thriller of a dogfight.