World's biggest fighter jets deal in offing, Pakistan to keep a close watch
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NEW DELHI - The Indian Air Force on Friday began the process of buying around 110 fighter jets, which could be worth more than $15 billion, in what will be, once it is closed, one of the biggest defence deals in recent years.
IAF published a Request for Information on its website on Friday seeking supply of single- and twin-seat jets to be mostly manufactured locally under the Modi government’s flagship Make in India scheme.
The fact that a RFI was imminent was first reported by Hindustan Times which said in a report on March 12 that one would be issued within the month.
According to the RFI, around 75% of the aircraft will be single-seat ones. IAF intends to use the aircraft as day and night -capable, all-weather, multi-role combat aircraft. The RFI is likely to evoke interest from most major aircraft makers, including Saab, Lockheed Martin, and Dassault Aviation.
According to the RFI, 15% of the aircraft will be bought in a flyaway state, and the rest will have to be made locally.
The RFI is the first step towards finding a new warplane for the air force and global manufacturers have to respond to it by July 6, with operational features and technical parameters of their platforms.
That done, the air force will make a case for getting the ministry’s so-called acceptance of necessity (AoN) – a stamp of approval to pursue a military purchase programme.
