Across the World: India

New fighter jet trials

India started field trials to buy 126 fighter jets this week, defense officials said on Friday, moving forward on a $10.4 billion deal to modernize the air force. Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, France's Dassault Rafale, Lockheed Martin Corp's F-16, Russia's MiG-35, Sweden's Saab JAS-39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon, produced by a consortium of European companies, are in the race for the contract, one of the biggest in play. "The trials have begun in full swing and it will take a year to complete it in different places and weather conditions," Nung Sanglemba Ao, a defense ministry official, said.