New Delhi:
India to strengthen its Air Force has asked global companies to submit proposals for 110 fighter jets, the world’s biggest order. The deal is said to eventually to cost at least Rs 100,000 crores.
Indian Air Force soughts requests for information for the supply of single and twin-seat jets to be mostly manufactured in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ambitious “Make in India” initiative.
India earlier scrapped a deal to buy 126 fighter jets from Dassault Aviation SA and opted to import 36 Rafale aircraft.
The request for information for the 110 fighter jets lays down multiple parameters on the basis which the Air Force will evaluate the fighter jets.
“85 per cent will have to be made in India by a Strategic Partne/Indian Production Agency,” the Air Force said.
The Indian Force in the request for information has marked that all the fighter jets should be delivered within three years of signing the contract.
The request for information is open till July.
According to Air Force sources, manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing of the United States, Dassault of France, SAAB of Sweden, European consortium Eurofighter and MiG of Russia are expected to compete.
