The Indian government offered to buy hundreds of fighter planes from foreign manufacturers if they are ready to manufacture planes in India with a local partner, Air Force officials said.
As India plans to phase out all ageing soviet-era aircraft, the deal could move up to 300 planes making it one of the country’s biggest aircraft deals
The Indian Air Force is trying to speed up the acquisition of fighter planes and arrest a fall in operational strength, now a third less than required to face both China and Pakistan, Reuters reports.
According to media reports, the Indian government wants further military planes to be made in India with an Indian partner to kickstart a domestic aircraft industry.
American global aerospace company Lockheed Martin said it is interested in setting up a production line for its F16s in India for not just the Indian military, but also for exports.
Sweden’s Saab, who reportedly offered to help India in developing Tejas planes, also offered a rival production line for its Gripen aircraft.
The Indian defence ministry is reported to have written to several companies asking for their willingness to setup a production line for single-engine fighter planes and the amount of technology transfer they are willing to offer.
