International competitors are invited to make presentations to the Indian MoD on the purchase of a light fighter to replace the MiG-21 aircraft.

The initial pitches will be in the nature of request for information to see what is available in the international market.

The single-engine fighter will figure below the Dassault Rafale and completely replace the MiG-21s which form the bulk of the Indian Air Force’s fighter fleet. Industry sources told defenseworld.net that the process of making presentations has started and a couple of manufacturers have already completed their initial pitch.

Other contenders may include the F/A-18 of Boeing, the F-16 of Lockheed Martin and the proposed combat version of the BAE Systems Hawk trainer jet. Incidentally, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and BAE Systems had signed a memorandum of understanding just last week to develop a combat version of the Hawk.