BENGALURU, India, Feb 14 (Reuters) – India is likely to seek bids this year for 114 multi-role fighters, two sources said, marking a major step in a process to bolster the country’s stock of combat aircraft that has gone on for nearly two decades.
The project is critical for the Indian Air Force, whose squadrons of mainly Russian and ex-Soviet aircraft have fallen to 31 from an approved strength of 42 at a time when rival China is expanding its air force rapidly.