IAF to get 126 new fighter jets soon: Antony

The procedure for purchasing 126 multi-role combat jets for the Indian Air Force is at the final stage and will be completed shortly, Defence Minister A K Antony said today.

"The procedure for acquisition of 126 multi-role aircraft is at the final stage. I can assure that a decision in this regard will be taken very quickly," he said at the Aero India show that he inaugurated this morning.

Several frontline jets made by global aviation majors - including the F-16 and F-18 of the US, Sweden's Gripen and Russia's MiG-35 - are in the race for the contract.

Antony also said India's light combat aircraft project is very much on and "there is no question" of it being abandoned.