Wednesday, August 05, 2026
Six plane makers are bidding to supply 110 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) to the Indian Air Force, to replace its ageing fleet of MiG-21s and MiG-27s, in a deal that could be worth as much as $15 billion. The aircraft must be built mainly in India as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” campaign. Making parts and assembling the jets with Indian strategic partners will build a domestic defence industry that can supply more of India’s needs and even export weapons to other nations. US defence contractors Boeing and Lockheed Martin are eager to win business from a country that has historically chosen Russian and European suppliers.
