India seeks proposals for fifth generation combat jets, ANI reports (updated)

Bharat Electronics

27/05/2026 13:44

Adds details, background

    NEW DELHI, May 27 (Reuters) - India has sought initial proposals to locally manufacture a fifth generation combat aircraft from three short-listed bidders, news agency ANI reported on Wednesday, citing defence officials.
Here are some details: 
The bidders are Tata Advanced Systems, and joint ventures between Larsen and Toubro LART.NS-Bharat Electronics BAJE.NS, and Bharat Forge BFRG.NS-BEML BEML.NS – all of them Indian companies.
India approved a programme to build the stealth fighter jets and invited interest for the same from defence firms last year, weeks after a fierce military conflict with nuclear-armed foe Pakistan.
The programme is critical to boost the strength of the Indian Air Force, whose fleet of mostly Russian aircraft has shrunk to below 30 squadrons in recent months, compared to the approved strength of 42.
The push aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's larger ambition to ramp-up local manufacturing and boost its military might to take on threats from both Pakistan and China.
Washington has pitched its advanced F-35 jet to India and Russia has countered that by offering its own fifth-generation Su-57. India has maintained a distance from both offers.
New Delhi has long relied on importing machinery and weapons for its armed forces, but a recent push by Modi has helped boost domestic manufacturing.
India's defence production hit a record high of 1.54 trillion rupees ($16.09 billion) in the financial year ended March 2025.
($1 = 95.6900 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee; Editing by YP Rajesh)
((hritam.mukherjee@thomsonreuters.com; @MukherjeeHritam;))