New Delhi: With the opening of Indian defence sector, Swedish defence major Saab is planning to hold meetings with Indian companies next month to develop ecosystem in the country for manufacturing multi-role fighter aircraft, a top official of the company said September 12.

Saab is among the contenders for supplying around 110 fighter planes to India under the Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme. The Indian Air Force in April 2018 issued an initial tender or Request for Information (RFI) for the billion dollar procurement deal.

Saab responded to the initial tender in July 2018 with its Gripen E MRFA.

Mats Palmberg, VP Industrial Partnerships and Head of Gripen India Campaign said the company has undertaken surveys for aerostructures parts, such as sub-assemblies, machined parts and sheet metal parts.

“The industry evaluation tour will take place for 10 days in mid-October. A dozen Indian SMEs suitable for systems manufacturing will be met…by a team consisting of different Saab companies, international system suppliers headed by members of the Gripen for India team, ” Palmberg said.

Palmberg said Saab has been holding continuous discussions with the company’s international partners and suppliers and with the Indian companies.

The company has Saab India Tech Centre (SITC) in Hyderabad, which together with Tech Mahindra is undertaking Gripen development work.