Boeing (NYSE: BA) has received U.S. approval to propose its F-15EX fighter jet to India’s air force, which intends to purchase 114 multirole aircraft in a deal that could be valued at more than $18 billion, Reuters reported Thursday.
Ankur Kanaglekar, director and India fighters lead at Boeing’s defense, space and security business, said the U.S. and Indian governments had begun talks on the F-15EX aircraft.
“Now that we have the marketing licence it allows us to talk to the Indian Air Force directly about the capability of the fighter. We have started doing that in a small way,” said Kanaglekar.
Boeing’s fighter jet is expected to compete with Saab’s Gripen and Dassault Aviation’s Rafale multirole aircraft. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) also plans to join the competition by offering its F-21 fighter jet, according to the report.
