NEW DELHI — India’s defense ministry is in talks with French firm Sextant to buy 95 more autopilot systems for Indian air force (IAF) Jaguar fighters. “Procurement of autopilot for 55 Jaguar aircraft has been completed and commercial discussions for repeat procurement of additional 95 autopilots are [under way],” Defense Minister A. K. Antony said in parliament Sept. 3.
Boeing’s latest sales passenger aircraft sales forecast now expects India’s air transport sector in the next 20 years to grow at a greater rate than China, long deemed the largest long-term market for new aircraft sales. Despite the financial turmoil currently faced by Indian operators, Boeing says the country’s commercial aviation fleet is likely to grow more than 4.5 times in size over the next 20 years, and expects Indian airlines to order as many as 1,450 aircraft worth a total of $175 billion by 2031.
