One of the most hotly contested fighter procurement programs in the world right now is the Indian Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program, which is intended to replace India’s aging MiG-21s, and Dassault is very aggressively pursuing this.

Basically, Dassault has stated that it has gotten clearance from the French government for near total technology transfer.

Additionally unlike all of the other western competitors, its US content is near zero, and so is not subject to the US export restrictions.

To refresh your memory (more here), the competitors are competitors are the MiG-35 (a Mig-29 derivative), Gripen, Rafale, Typhoon, F-16 and F-18E, and my analysis in my earlier posts stands, I think that the Gripen, F-16, F-18E, and Eurofighter are all too tied up in US export restrictions, that the Eurofighter and Rafale are too expensive, which leaves the MiG-35.

I think that the Gripen’s low cost over its lifetime, it’s about ½ the size of most of the competitors may give it an outside chance, but my money is still on the MiG.

The Indians have been using Russian equipment for about half a century, and the low purchase price and familiarity will mean a lot here.