India invites bids for fighter jets from six firms

India invited bids from six defense manufacturers for 126 fighter jets, one of the world's biggest military aircraft deals, as part of its plan to modernize the country's ageing air force. Preliminary offers to supply the aircraft valued at 420 billion rupees were sought from the makers of Russia's MiG-35 and France's Rafale fighter, and Sweden's Saab, which builds the JAS-39 Gripen.