The Indian government will award formal clearance for the new fighter-jet purchase in the middle of next year, after which the navy would be able to issue a global tender, a senior Indian Ministry of Defense official said.
"The selection of new aircraft will not be finalized by 2025 and the entire program will cost around $15 billion including platforms,
setting up of infrastructure and weaponry," a second Indian navy official added.
The service wants the new fighters to be day- and night-capable in all weather conditions. Its envisioned roles include air defense, air-to-surface battles, refueling, reconnaissance and electronic-warfare missions.
"Since the RFI is quite open-ended as far as the type of aircraft the [Indian] Navy is looking for, the field is open to all major vendors,
including state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)," which makes the indigenous LCA aircraft, said Anil Jai Singh, retired Indian Navy commodore and defense analyst.
Despite publication of the RFI to buy new fighter aircraft, a senior HAL executive said the company will still go ahead with a naval LCA.
"I don't think that the naval LCA program can be terminated - a lot of effort and investment has gone into it but it will have to be adapted
to the navy's contemporary technological requirements. The RFI appears to be an effort to assess what all is available in the global market and may not necessarily translate into a program," Singh said.
