News Nation Logo

IAF considering all major manufacturers for new fighters jets: Reports

As The Companies Contest To Get The Indian Order, They Have Made Several Offers To Sweeten The Deals.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Victor Dasgupta | Updated on: 25 Aug 2019, 09:28:11 PM
Indian Air Force (PTI)

New Delhi:

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is hoping that the procurement of 114 fighter jets will be must faster than the process that had led to the procurement of French Rafale which took more than 10 years.

After the Rafale contract was cut from 126 to 36, the IAF had once again hit the global market for procuring 114 jets. According to a report, all the leading fighter manufacturers like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Eurofighter, Russian United Aircraft Corporation and Saab are in the list for the estimated USD 15 billion contract.

Earlier, these companies had taken part in the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) bidding process.

As the companies contest to get the Indian order, they have made several offers to sweeten the deals. The US aircraft makers have offered to set up production lines of F-16 and F-16 jets in India. New Delhi and Paris are discussing the possibilities of supplying 36 more Rafale.

Several other options are also on the table. The delay in induction of new line of fighter jets has already impacted IAF’s war preparation plans. The MiG-21s are being phased out but the replacements have not come in time due to various reasons. The IAF will get its first Rafale next month but the entire fleet of 36 will be operational in another four years.

The IAF is also looking to get mothballed MiG-29s from Russia along with placing new order for additional Su-30 MKIs. There is an urgent need to tap all the sources as the plan to upgrade Jaguar fighters, pending for several years, has made no headway.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.

First Published : 25 Aug 2019, 09:28:11 PM

Videos