India has set in motion the process to acquire a fleet of around 110 fighter jets in what is billed to be one of the world's biggest military procurements in recent years pegged at 15 billion dollars.

The Indian Air Force on Friday issued the Request for Information, or initial tender, for the procurement deal looking to buy more than 100 new fighter jets.

Leading foreign defence hardware manufacturers like SAAB of Sweden, Lockheed Martin and Boeing of the United States, Dassault of France, MiG of Russia and the European consortium Eurofighter are expected to compete for the deal that is eventually expected to cost upwards of about 15 billion dollars.

The Indian Air Force said "85 per cent will have to be made in India by a strategic partner/Indian production agency" and the first aircraft must be delivered within three years of signing the contract. The request for information is open until July, the Air Force said.

The move, officials said, is aimed at bringing high-end defence technology to India.

Meanwhile, the Indian Defence Ministry announced on Friday that an all-encompassing coordinated and composite exercise will be held by the Indian Air Force from April 8-22 to test coordination, deployment and employment of air power in a short and intense battle scenario.

The exercise, codenamed "Gaganshakti" (sky power) is aimed at coordinating operations, maintenance and administrative responses to achieve the objectives of the Indian Air Force in case of any contingency, a Defence Ministry statement said.

The logistics stamina of the Indian Air Force and the ability to sustain continuous operations through day and night would be put to test, it added.