Request for proposal for Fighter aircraft shortly: Air Chief

Bangalore, Sep 11 (UNI) Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi today indicated that the Request for Purchase (RFP) for 126 multiple fighter aircraft will be out shortly.

Talking to newsmen here on the sidelines of the 54th International Congress and Aviation and Space medicine here he said the fighting Falcon F-16 of Lockheed Martin was under consideration along with a few other fighter aircraft.

''First we will have to carry out the technological evaluation after we get to response for our RPF. The main factors will be how much of technology would the manufacturer transfer to India, suitability of the price, how quickly we could absorb the technology and whether any political strings are attached for the sale of the aircraft," he saud.

Replying to a question he said no problem was in sight in the weaponisation programme of the indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas.

He said, "IAF has ordered for 20 aircraft and the production process is on schedule. We have not been informed of any slippages in production. We are carrying out the integration of weapons on the LCA. There many be some minor problems. Whether it is with the Indian companies or the private (foreign) firms that are supplying the weapons the Ministry of Defence will take care of it. IAF is not directly involved in it." MORE UNI RS VK RKN1332