NEW DELHI -- With the deadline for proposals in India's Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition drawing closer, EADS held a large conference here to tell industry it's ready to submit its response April 28.

Boeing submitted its 7,000-page proposal four days earlier, offering its advanced F/A-18E/F to the Indian air force. Other expected contenders include Lockheed Martin's F-16, Dassault Aviation's Rafale, the MiG-35 and the Swedish Gripen.

The EADS offer would be a goverment-to-government arrangement between India and the four European nations of the EADS consortium, according to Klaus von Sperber, special envoy of the German government.

"We invite India to become a partner of the successful Eurofighter family," said Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of Military Air Systems. "The entire group considers India strategically important for EADS. If India becomes our partner, it will become a partner for technology enhancement."

India will be the partner country at the Berlin Air Show and has announced a strong presence at the show with around 25 Indian companies. Bernd Müzelburg, German ambassador in India, told Aerospace DAILY that a discussion would be held with Indian Defense Minister A.K Antony on India's new defense procurement policy, expected in May. Observers expect a requirement for 50 percent offsets on military projects.

"We are open to indirect offsets, especially in the aerospace business," Gerwert said.

Already, EADS is in the process of developing a missile warning system in collaboration with the Defense Avionics Research Establishment (DARE). The development follows a strategic cooperation agreement signed between the two last year based on the MILDS AN/AAR-60 sensor. The first integration tests conducted in DARE's multisensor self-protection suite are said to have been successful.

Like EADS, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems has identified potential public and private industrial partners, having signed long-term partnership agreements with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Tata Industries, and Larson and Toubro. "If the F/A-18IN Super Hornet is selected, these companies and others are expected to play a significant role as Boeing transfers some production and assembly to India," Boeing said in a statement.

"Boeing's strategic goal has been to seek a long-term partnership with India to help strengthen the country's aerospace capabilities and enhance its national security," said Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Precision Engagement & Mobility Systems. "Choosing the F/A-18E/F would give Indians a direct hand in building an advanced fighter aircraft that will robustly defend their shores and airspace, infuse new strength into the Indian air force, and serve as a catalyst for India's growing defense aerospace industry."