Indian Air Force begins process to procure 110 fighter jets

New Delhi : The Indian Air Force on Friday started process to procure 110 fighter jets worth an estimated $15 billion. As mentioned on the website of Defence Ministry, at least 85% of the jets are made in India, boosting PM Narendra Modi's initiative to localise production.

The issue of the request for information (RFI) is the first step to acquiring the aircraft.

This will be followed by a request for proposal (RFP) or a formal tender, to be followed by evaluations, technical trials and commercial negotiations.

Major aircraft producers like US firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing, Sweden’s Saab and France’s Dassault Aviation are likely to play a bid for a deal worth $ 15 billion.

“The ministry of defence, government of India, intends to procure fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force, which are to be made in India. The proposal is to procure approximately 110 fighter aircraft (about 75% single-seat and rest twin-seat),” the statement said.

“The procurement should have a maximum of 15% aircraft in flyaway state and the remaining 85% aircraft will have to be made in India” in collaboration with a strategic partner or an Indian production agency, the statement added.

“The aircraft are intended as day-and-night-capable, all-weather, multi-role combat aircraft” which can be used for air defence, reconnaissance, maritime, electronic warfare as well as refuelling missions, the statement said.