NEW DELHI – Indian Air Force to initiate the process for buying over 100fighter aircraft in the next few days.

The Air Force is moving ahead with a plan under which it will invite bidsfrom global aircraft manufacturers, including firms from the United States,Sweden, France and Europe, India today has reported.

Indian Military Officials have told government, it needs New fighter jetsto be ready for two front war against Pakistan China.

The Air Force is working hard to issue the Request for Information (RFI)for the combat aircraft, and it is expected to come out before the Defexpoexhibition which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi onApril 11, government sources told Mail Today.

The plan is to acquire more than 100 planes for arresting the fall insquadron strength of the force alongside promoting Make in India anddeveloping a mature and capable indigenous defence industry here.

The Air Force has already told the government that it is in a hurry toinduct new planes and wants the government to go for an inter-governmentaldeal with a foreign country to make the planes here at the earliest.

As per the plans, the specifications for the programme would be such thatit will allow a level playing field for both single engine and twin enginefighters during the selection process for the mega tender.

Sources said the tender process would not be as stringent as the previouscompetition held on 2007 for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA)procurement programme, where Frances Rafale jet was finally chosen, but theproject had to be cancelled later on.