AJT loss not to dent Dassault hopes

BANGALORE: Dassualt Aviation does not need to be hurt having lost the AJT deal to BAE Hawk. The France-based Dassault Aviation was a keen contender for the Advanced Jet Trainers with their Alpha Jets. As far as the AJT Alpha Jet deal is concerned, vice-president, international relations (defence), Yves Robbins, said: "We could not meet the requirements of the AJT for India. We were not sure if we could honour our commitment and so did not go ahead." He added, "The production of Alpha Jets was stopped way back in 1986. But if HAL is looking to design its AJT, Dassault Aviation is always available to provide technical support." The Mirage 2000, built by Dassault Aviation, has been the pride of India, having shown its superior skills during the Kargil crisis. "We have gained on our sales after the performance of Mirage 2000s in the Kargil operation," according to a military attache of the French government. This multi-role aircraft Mirage 2000 comes in single and twin-seater versions for training, can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.2+, a climbing speed of 60,000 ft/min and has an operational ceiling of 60,000 ft. Wing Cdr Vineeth Singh, a Mirage 2000 pilot, says, "I have flown both MiGs and the Mirage 2000, but I certainly find the Mirage 2000 out of this world in its manoeuvreability." The IAF has two squadrons of Mirage 2000s based in Gwalior. Now that the Mirage 2000 has proved Dassault Aviation''s capability, it is now trying to sell Rafale to the IAF and the Falcon series of commercial aircraft to the corporate industries in India.