India is preparing to re-launch a significant military procurement initiative this year, seeking bids for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft. The initiative comes at a crucial time for the Indian Air Force , which has seen its fighter squadrons decline to 31 from the required strength of 42. This reduction is concerning given China’s ongoing air force expansion.
Several major aerospace manufacturers who expressed interest in the previous 2018 bid are still pursuing the contract. The potential competitors include:
– American companies Lockheed Martin and Boeing
– Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC)
– France’s Dassault Aviation
– Sweden’s Saab AB
– Germany’s Eurofighter
Lockheed Martin is offering its F-21, a variant of the F-16 fighter customized for Indian requirements. The company already maintains a joint production facility with India’s Tata Group in Hyderabad, where it manufactures F-16 wings. It is not clear if the F-35 Stealth fighter from Lockheed, which was just demonstrated at Aero India will be part of the competition. See our recent blog post with a list of purchases from the U.S,
Russia, India’s legacy arms supplier, is positioning its advanced Su-57 stealth fighter for the competition. During the Aero India aerospace exhibition, Russian officials informally discussed the possibility of manufacturing the Su-57 in India using existing Su-30 production facilities. This represents an upgrade from their previous offerings of the Su-35 and MiG-35.
Sweden’s Saab is also actively competing with its JAS-39 Gripen E jet. The company has developed plans for an Indian supply chain and reports positive reception from Indian officials, emphasizing the cost-efficiency of their aircraft.
The multi-role fighter aircraft project continues an earlier unsuccessful attempt to acquire 126 jets, which began in 2007 but was ultimately deferred in 2015. That procurement was replaced by a smaller purchase of 36 Rafale fighters from France’s Dassault Aviation, who remains a potential competitor in the current bid.
This procurement initiative comes as India works to diversify its military suppliers, particularly since Russia’s war in Ukraine has complicated the acquisition of maintenance, parts, and upgrades of India’s existing Russian equipment. The IAF currently operates no American fighter jets, though it does use about 50 of its Tejas aircraft with General Electric engines and has ordered 170 more.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
