UK disappointed over failure to emerge as preferred bidder for India's defence deal

New Delhi, March 1 (ANI): British High Commission spokesperson Marcus Winsley has expressed disappointment over India not considering the Eurofighter Typhoon as the preferred bidder for India's air defence contract for Medium Multi-Role Aircraft (MMRA) worth 20 billion dollars.

"You will understand that we are disappointed not to have been chosen as the preferred bidder to go into the next stage of the competition. However, we have the utmost respect for the process that is being followed, and there is no way that we would want to cut across that. However, we still believe that Euro Fighter offers the best capability at the best price and until the deal is finally down and contract is finally shut aside, the Indian Government have an opportunity to look elsewhere if those contract negotiations won't be successfully completed," said Winsley.

India had opted for a bid from France's Dassault aviation built Rafales last month, after competing with the BAE's Eurofighter Typhoon and Boeing Co's F/A-18 Super Hornet to secure a 126 aircraft contract.

Winsley added that this deal would not affect the ties between the two nations.

"I should say, however, that it's a four nation consortium it is not just the UK. More broadly, UK- India relationship is not one that is built on single transaction neither in the defence sector, where we have much going on already," said Winsley.

Winsley also commented on the recent issue wherein the British government decided to attach certain conditions as they give economic assistance to India.

A British daily had earlier reported that the UK government is unlikely to extend any kind of economic assistance after the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said during a session of the upper house of the Parliament that the country does not need 'peanuts'.

Various political leaders had condemned this decision highlighting that the economic aid would be of no benefit to the country if certain conditions were attached to it.

Winsley denied of any differences between the two nations over the foreign aid.

"I think, the way we see it is that a lot of work went in on both the British and Indian sides over last couple of years in order to agree a contract around the British Aid programme, which directly meets the needs that India perceives it has and where the British assistance actually can make a difference in support of large Indian programmes to bring inclusive development. So, there is no issue between the two governments over the programme," said Winsley. (ANI)