IANS

New Delhi, Aug 28: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday floated a global tender for 126 combat jets worth $10 billion in the country's biggest ever defence deal, but it could be six years before the first planes start arriving.

Eighteen of the medium multi-role combat aircraft will be purchased in flyaway condition and the remaining 108 manufactured in the country under a transfer of technology (TOT) agreement with the chosen supplier. The aircraft are envisaged to have a lifecycle of 40 years from the time of delivery.

The 211-page request for proposal (RFP) has been sent to the manufacturers of six aircraft: the US F-16 and F-18 Super Hornet, the Swedish Gripen, the French Rafale, the Russian MiG-35 and a European consortium's Eurofighter.

India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the RFP at a meeting in Delhi on June 29. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister A K Antony.

The six companies, which have been given six months to respond, will be asked to sign a confidentiality clause against revealing the contents of the RFP to a third party.