New Delhi: The Navy has launched a hunt for
a new set of fighter jets to operate from the aircraft
carriers it will have in service five to six years from now.
Navy sources said here on Sunday that the force has issued a
Request for Information (RFI) to global aviation majors,
including American Boeing, Russian MiG and French D`Assault,
ahead of issuing a tender for the aircraft.
Though the RFI is of a `generic` nature, it could
ultimately lead to a tender (or Request for Proposal) and the
initial requirement would be for 16 aircraft with provision
for follow-up orders of up to 40 aircraft, sources said.
The deck-based aircraft are required by the Navy to
operate from its three 40,000-tonne Indigenous Aircraft
Carriers (IAC) being built at the Cochin Shipyard. The
delivery of the first IAC is expected around 2015.
While Boeing is likely to offer its F/A-18 `Super
Hornet` which is operated by the US Navy from its aircraft
carriers, D`Assault will bid with its `Rafale` fighters. Both
these aircraft are already in the race for the Indian Air
Force`s (IAF) 126 medium multi role aircraft (MMRCA) tender
worth Rs 42,000 crore.
PTI
