IAF to add more aircrafts to its fleet: Tyagi

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 12 (UNI) The Indian Air force will induct 126 fighter aircraft into its fleet in the coming years, apart from the 66 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) and three Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft this year, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi said today.

''Discussions are on for inducting 126 fighters. The best bidder would get it from an open competition,'' he told reporters and added that there was no time frame for buying these aircraft, which is going to be the single largest fighter plane contract in the aviation history.

Air Chief Marshal Tyagi said out of the 66 Hawk AJT's, 24 would come from the UK in the middle of this year and the rest would be built in India.

The IAF would get the three AWACS aircraft by the end of this year while 40 Sukhoi aircraft would be inducted into the IAF this year and 80 Mi-17 Helicopters next year.

Mr Tyagi hoped that the first squadron of the Light Combat Aircraft would enter service by 2009-2010.

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