European Eurofighter project to create 20,000 jobs in India

Four-nation European consortium EADS is offering to create 20,000 high-skilled jobs in India if it bags the lucrative Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) contract.

The contract would entail technology transfer and manufacture of the fighter planes by the buyer country.

"We will create with the Eurofighter 20,000 high-skilled jobs in India. We have already hired eight engineers and will hire another 100 within the next 10-14 months and are looking particularly for electronic engineers," Stefan Zoller, head of EADS Defence and Security said.

He maintained that this figure would go upto 250 engineers for Eurofighter in two years.

Zoller argued that India's human resource had a rich talent in the field of software and had "proven high-quality" software professionals which could be tapped by the EADS, a consortium formed by UK, Germany, Spain and Italy.

If the consortium wins this contract then several other companies would also be involved in the ambitious project, generating more employment.

EADS, which makes Eurofighter Typhoon MMRCA, is one of the bidders for the 126 such fighter planes that India has floated tenders for.

The European consortium is already working with India in building the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) being built in Bangalore.

"40 Indian engineers are working in the LCA project partly here and in India," Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of (Military Air Systems) EADS, Defence and Security said.

Though EADS is more than eager to include technology transfer as one of the key components of the deal, there is a concern about not getting 50 per cent stake in any venture established by the consortium in India.

Recalling an earlier attempt to strike a deal with Larsen and Toubro in India, Zoller said a foreign company getting only 26% stake became an issue.

"Whatever we generate there, we get only 26%.

We want 50% participation," he said.

EADS officials maintain that they look at India as a partner and not just an "interesting market".

"We want to become a strong security and defence company in India," Zoller said, adding that his aim was to create "centres of competence" there which would be meet global standards.