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India to select 1 fighter jet under Make in India

India is likely to select by the year-end at least one fighter aircraft that will be manufactured by the private sector under the Make in India program for supply to the IAF, defence minister Manohar

India is likely to select by the year-end at least one fighter aircraft that will be manufactured by the private sector under the Make in India program for supply to the IAF, defence minister Manohar Parrikar has reportedly said. He said that there may be one or two more jet fighter plants, either operational or in the process of being set up, in India in the next three years or so.

Asked if this meant the state-run HAL will set up more plants, Mr Parrikar was quoted by news agencies as saying, “It is the private sector which will be required to supply to the Air Force. We need fighters. We may encourage ... There are proposals.”

Mr Parrikar apparently said late on Tuesday evening that through a “proper process”, by year end, “we might select few aircraft to Make in India. Which one I don’t commit. But there will be at least one, may be two also.”

Boeing and Lockheed Martin of the US, Saab of Sweden, Dassault Aviation of France and the European Eurofighter consortium have offered to set up manufacturing bases in India, along with the transfer of technology if their fighter aircraft was selected for the Indian Air Force.

All the companies are also in talks with Indian private firms to select a local partner. However, they are awaiting a clear signal from the government before selecting their partners.

Mr Parrikar also made it clear that Make in India does not mean just assembly of equipment but manufacturing through transfer of technology.

The development comes as both India and France are in the last stage of concluding an inter-government agreement on direct purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jet planes.

The government has also decided to equip the IAF, which is looking to boost the number of its fighter squadrons, with indigenously-developed Tejas light combat aircraft.

According to news agency reports, HAL is already in the process of increasing its capacity to manufacture 16 Tejas aircraft per year.

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