India has sought initial proposals to locally manufacture a fifth-generation combat aircraft from three short-listed bidders, ANI reported on Wednesday, citing defence officials.

The bidders are Tata Advanced Systems, joint ventures between Larsen and Toubro-Bharat Electronics, and Bharat Forge-BEML, all of them Indian companies.

India approved a programme to build the stealth fighter jets and invited interest for the same from defence firms last year, weeks after the military conflict with Pakistan.

The programme is critical to boost the strength of the Indian Air Force, whose fleet of mostly Russian aircraft has shrunk to below 30 squadrons in recent months, compared to the approved strength of 42.

The push aligns with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s larger ambition to ramp up local manufacturing and boost its military might.

Washington has pitched its advanced F-35 jet to India and Russia has countered that by offering its own fifth-generation Su-57. India has maintained a distance from both offers.

New Delhi has long relied on importing machinery and weapons for its armed forces, but Modi’s recent push has helped boost domestic manufacturing.

India’s defence production hit a record high of $16.09 billion in the financial year ended March 2025.