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Make In India Boost: IAF Looks To Produce 110 Fighter Jets In India With Foreign Collaboration
Saab’s Gripen single-engine fighter jet. (Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
The Indian Air Force (IAF) today (6 April) issued a Request For Information (RFI) or an initial tender to global fighter jet manufacturers to produce 110 fighter jets in the country, Times of India has reported.
The IAF is in urgent need for new fighter jets as its strength lies depleted with only 31 squadrons operational, as against the 42 it needs to counter the combined threat from Pakistan and China.
Under the arrangement, foreign manufacturers will have to collaborate with an Indian partner to set up a production line for the fighter jets.
The new procurements fall under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) induction program, under which the IAF had initially planned to induct only single engine fighter jets. However, the limitation left the IAF wanting for options with only American F-16s and Swedish Gripens fitting the bill.
However, now the IAF is looking at both single and twin-engine jets opening the field for jets like F-18, Eurofighter Typhoon, MiG 35 etc. The tender comes ahead of this year’s DEFEXPO to be held in Chennai.
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