Saab Confirms Receiving RFI for Manufacture of 110 Combat Aircraft for India

Saab today confirmed that they have received the request for information (RFI) document from the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) for the procurement of 110 combat aircraft for the Air Force (IAF).

Saab executives holding a press conference at the on-going Defense Exposition, DefExpo 2018 said Thursday that they have received the RFI and will be proposing Gripen E multi-role fighter jet for the program.

The Indian MoD had issued a RFI to procure approximately 110 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force last week.

The RFI has sought information from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on the specifics of the aircraft for both single engine and twin-engine fighter jets. According to the RFI, India intends to purchase a maximum of 15 percent of the total 110 fighters in fly away condition and manufacture the rest 85 percent under the Make in India program, the RFI said.

The Russian sources confirmed receiving the RFI and will be proposing MiG-35 aircraft for the program.

The MoD has specified that about 75 percent of the 110 aircraft will be single seat fighters while the rest will be twin seater aircraft.

The document also specified that the OEMs are requested to convey with clarity, their Transfer of Technology (ToT) offer for indigenous manufacture of the aircraft in India.

The total cost of the procurement could be between $15 billion to $20 billion dollars.

The other contenders for the competition are likely to be American Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin’s F-16 V5, French Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. The new aircraft are intended to replace the IAF's MiG21 jets.