With the signing of the deal for the 83 LCA Tejas Mark 1A aircraft during the upcoming Aero India, the Indian Air Force now wants to focus on the multirole fighter aircraft project. Under this, it plans to acquire 114 fighter aircraft costing more than 1.3 lakh crores. The Air Force was at one time carrying out a fighter aircraft project. Now its 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter jet has been approved by the Cabinet Committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During Aero India, a Rs 50,000-crore deal is set to be signed in Bengaluru.
Sources in the government told news agency ANI “83 LCA Tejas MiG-21s will replace four squadrons of fighter jets, which are to be phased out in the near future. The focus will now be on the 114 fighter jets project.”
The Indian Air Force has already issued a request for information for the tender and soon a proposal will be made to the Ministry of Defense for the project to get the approval of the requirement (AoN). This will enable the acquisition of 4.5 plus generation aircraft. Let us tell you that the process of 36 Rafale aircraft joining the Air Force has already started last year. Request for Information (RFI) has been responded to by many global companies, including fighter jet manufacturers from the US, France, Russia and Sweden.
American F-15 Strike Eagles, F-18 Super Hornet and F-16 variants are offered as F-21, with Russia likely to offer MiG-35 and Sukhoi Fighter. France will participate in the tender along with the Rafale fighter jet. Let me tell you that recently, Air Chief Marshal Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria named Rafael as one of the strong contenders for the 114 fighter acquisition project.
Sources said the main aspect for selection in the project would be the price of the offer as well as the capabilities of the aircraft. The Indian Air Force is also preparing the criteria based on which those fighter aircraft will be selected. It will include both single-engine and double-engine fighter jets. These 114 aircraft will be made in India. Foreign companies will be required to transfer technology to create a strong domestic defense industry under the Self-Reliant India Scheme.
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