NEW DELHI: India plans to change to locally-made fighter jets, 2 years after asking global companies to submit propositions to supply 114 fight airplane in the world’s biggest warplane contract.
The country’s air force is settling strategies to induct indigenously made Light Combat Aircraft,
Tejas
to enhance the capability of its aging battle aircraft fleet, Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat stated in an interview in New Delhi. It will purchase an extra 83 jets, apart from an earlier offer for 40 airplane, for $6 billion, he said.
” The Indian Flying force is changing that to the LCA,” Rawat stated, when inquired about the worldwide tender for jets. “The
IAF
is saying, I would rather take the indigenous fighter, it is excellent.”
The decision is a held up for the likes of Boeing Co, Lockheed Martin Corp and Saab AB who were in the race for the $15 billion order and another sign that India is deserting pricey foreign defense purchases which have been plagued by administrative delays and a financing