More teeth: Navy on the hunt for its next fighter jet

NEWDELHI : The Indian Navy has launched a global search for maritime fighter jets it plans to operate from future aircraft carriers and is awaiting response from top military contractors on what they have to offer.

The navy wants 57 multi-role carrier-borne fighters (MRCBF) and the potential order could get bigger with an option clause to buy more jets.

The hunt for new deck-based fighters comes at a time when the navy is left with just a solitary aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya.

The navy issued a request for information for the multi-billion dollar multi-role carrier-borne fighters project in January, giving aircraft manufacturers a four-month deadline to respond.

By May of this year, the foreign firms have to answer queries on technical parameters, budgetary estimates, likely level of indigenisation, transfer of technology and schedule of deliveries after a contract is inked. French, Swedish, Russian and American firms are likely to compete for the project to equip India’s future carriers: Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)-I or Vikrant being built at Kochi and IAC-2, which is in a conceptual stage.

The navy has rejected the naval version of the light combat aircraft. It wants a twin-engine fighter with a stronger airframe and landing gear to operate from a flight deck with high-tempo fly- ing cycles.

The navy wants the deliveries to begin within three years of signing of the contract and be completed in another three years. However, signing a contract could take several years.

The supplier selected by the navy will have to execute offset contracts amounting to 30% of the value of the deal. The government wants to license produce deck-based fighters with transfer of technology.