NEW DELHI — India will open commercial bids for its two finalists in the $11 billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program on Nov. 4. “We expect to finalize the vendor for the 126 multirole combat jets in the next few weeks,” a defense ministry official says. In April, India downselected the Eurofighter Consortium’s Typhoon and Dassault’s Rafale as the final contenders for the MMRCA deal. The two companies have extended their offers until December and the government has to decide the final winner by then or the bids will expire.

NEW DELHI — India’s defense ministry has approved a massive military modernization program that includes a comprehensive overhaul and upgrade of the army’s firepower. The military revamp, pegged at about $12 billion, is now awaiting the finance ministry’s approval, an army official tells Aviation Week. “The proposal is expected to be cleared by the finance ministry very soon and it will then be put before the Cabinet Committee on Security for approval and financial sanction,” he says.

NEW DELHI — The Pentagon is reiterating its enthusiasm for India to consider purchasing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, even though New Delhi already shut out U.S. providers from its fighter competition.