Indian Air Force In Final Stages Of Finalising Tender For 114 Fighter Jets; 85 Per Cent Aircraft To Be Made In India

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is in the final stages of deciding technical parameters for a 114 fighter aircraft tender, reports The Hindu.

After the specifications are finalised, the case may be presented before the Defence Acquisition Council sometimes in June.

“The Air Staff Quality Requirements (ASQR) are being finalised by the Air Force Headquarters. After that the file would be sent to the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) within two months for formulating within the Service Capital Acquisition Plans,” a defence official stated.

Then, once the DAC gives an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the IAF will send out a detailed Request For Proposal (RFP) created on the basis of the ASQRs.

In April 2018, the IAF had issued the Request For Information (RFI) which detailed the proposal to buy 114 fighter aircraft. As per the requirements, 85 per cent of the aircraft would need to be manufactured indigenously under the ‘Make in India’ programme, with a domestic firm playing the role of a ‘Strategic Partner/Indian Production Agency.’

This means that the selected international firm has to produce the aircraft in partnership with a private Indian entity, thus facilitating transfer of technology. Seven international firms had responded to the RFI, with two of the proposals being for single-engine jets and the rest for twin engine ones.