Indian airlines and airport operators are on their way to introducing the latest aviation technologies, including self-service check-in kiosks to facilitate easy travel for passengers, enhance security at airports and save money for airlines.

NEW DELHI — India would be unlikely to entertain a bid by Lockheed Martin to offer the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and re-enter the roughly $11 billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, as such a move could significantly raise the cost and delay the procurement, several Indian officials and observers tell Aviation Week.

NEW DELHI — India’s defense ministry is zeroing in on an effort to buy 194 microlight aircraft for training and research. The request for proposals was released in March. One of the contenders is Pipistrel, a Slovenia-based light-aircraft maker. “If Pipistrel gets short-listed, it will set up a microlight field in the ‘go-fly zone’ near Jaipur and initially invest up to €2 million [$2.88 million],” says Vibhooti Singh Deora, CEO of Microlight Aviation Private Ltd. (MAPL).