India has completed an evaluation of six aircraft before it orders the final 126 multirole combat aircraft (MCRA) for the country’s air force.

Air Chief Marshal PV Naik told the Hindu that the Indian Air Force has submitted the details of the evaluation to the Ministry of Defence, which is expected to take a final decision soon.

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“The evaluation report will be discussed by the Cabinet Committee on Security, after which the process of awarding contracts would be initiated,” Naik said.

The signing of contracts will take another year and the delivery of the first batch of 18 aircraft to the air force will be carried out within three years after the orders are placed, according to Naik.

Boeing, Lockheed Martin, D’Assault, SAAB, EADS and MiG are competing for the $10bn medium MCRA tender.

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