NEW DELHI — The Indian air force (IAF) may soon buy 45 3-D Avian (Bird) Radar Systems that can help detect and precisely track bird locations over airports. The radars, most suited for military and commercial airfields, have been designed, developed and manufactured by India’s OIS Advanced Technology (OIS-AT), the lone bidder. The IAF says it is pleased with the results of user trials.

NEW DELHI — India expects to roll out the first prototype of the Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) in 2017. The Indo-Russian joint venture to develop a new multi-role military transport, using specifications developed by both countries, was signed in October 2012 between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and United Aircraft Corporation’s Transport Aircraft division.

NEW DELHI — India’s much-awaited purchase of 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian air force from French firm Dassault Aviation will be further delayed as negotiations to calculate the life-cycle cost haven’t been settled and there is no money for any new buys, Defense Minister A. K. Antony says. “The MMRCA will materialize, [but] it will not be in this financial year [ending March 31],” Antony says. “The negotiations on life-cycle costs are continuing. I hope we will be able to close it [during the] next financial year.”