"The Eurofighter Typhoon will be the Indian Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft" Pakistani blog says. RUMINT, HUMINT or speculation?

Although an Indian Air Force spokeperson has quickly denied the news, according to a Pakistani blog “Grande Strategy”, Eurofighter has won the Indian MMRCA tender, worth 10-15 billion USD for +126 combat planes.

“Grande Strategy sources are suggesting that the Eurofighter Typhoon may in fact be the winner of the long delayed Indian Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition” the article says.

Even if the Typhoon will likely be the next addition to the Indian Air Force’s already varied fleet (made of Mirage 2000s, Mig-29s, Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, some obsolete Mig-21s, Mig-27s and Jaguars) it’s worth of note that a Pakistani think tank “providing strategy and analysis from an Islamic perspective” has given the news earlier than the India media, that reported opposite speculations last year.

Considered the current status of the Indo-Pakistani relations, it’s somehow strange that a think tank “on the enemy side” was able to get such tip from sources among decision makers that have been comparing the MMRCA bids. Maybe, information was gathered through Human Intelligence (HUMINT) or Rumor Intelligence (RUMINT).

Unless the news was purposely leaked or it is only speculation.

Eurofighter didn’t confirm nor deny the news.

 

About David Cenciotti
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

7 Comments

  1. You got to be kidding me! You fell some numbskull pakistani rag passing off a regurgitated piece of news as its own “tip”. Anybody even remotely keeping track of mil-avia news has been speaking of this speculation since the 9th of this month – full 4 days earlier than your pakistani “tip” which you claim broke it before any other Indian source
    This speculative news was indeed very much broken first by an India news outlet
    http://www.livemint.com/2012/01/09225047/Govt-to-soon-close-deal-for-fi.html

    To think you use that site as reference to write up a blog post. Tragic

    • You missed the point.
      It’s a matter of communication.

      Flightglobal.com gave the news earlier, on Jan. 8.
      Neither the article you mention, nor the Flightglobal one sparkled any special interest among the Western media.

      The way the Pakistani think tank presented the story, made the news.
      And compelled an Indian Defense Ministry official to deny it.

      • David,

        Grandestrategy is more of a fantasy site (envisaging stealthy JF-17s and attack subs) than a think-tank. It’s very clear that there’s nothing in their article which is original. Anybody following the MMRCA deal wouldn’t even look it for one minute.

        At least the Mint report (being a rather credible business publication) makes more sense.

    • Kid! start chest beating that we got this news before and now you can prepare all excuses but fact can’t be changed. Its your fault to underestimate us.

      • Muhammad,

        Pakistan can’t get information about what happens in its own territory so there’s no reason for the rest of the world to estimate or understimate you. That even Eurofighter/EADS went to the extent of denying it shows how accurate you are.

  2. it is just speculation and nothing else….. tomorrow, if typoon wins these people claim they are right , otherwise, remain quite, nothing to lose….good idea to halt the deal

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