The Indian Air Force is purchasing 18 Spyder missile systems, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi told reporters here on Thursday. The system's Python-5 and Derby missiles will give the IAF the capability to engage enemy aircraft, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, drones and precision-guided munitions.

"Price negotiations are over and the deal has been sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security for clearance," Air Chief Marshal Tyagi said.

The system can provide air defence for fixed assets such as airbases, nuclear installations, VVIP buildings and point and area defence for mobile forces.

Israel and the European consortium MBDT were in the contention.

Meanwhile, India is in talks with France to purchase several second-hand Mirage 2000 fighters to bolster its air force, a diplomat said Friday.

"The Indian air force is seeking to acquire some aircraft quickly," the diplomat told AFP, without giving numbers, although the Indian press has said 40 may be bought.

"The figure of 40 does not match the reality," the diplomat said.

French defence ministry officials were due to meet India's air force chief later Friday.

Indian air force spokesman squadron leader Mahesh Upasini said the proposal to acquire the jets had "come to us from France".

France and India have also been discussing for several months a new maintenance contract for New Delhi's 52 Mirage fighters built by Dassault, the diplomat said.

Indian sources added that India's navy is also talking to Dassault about purchasing the Mirage-2000MKI, a maritime version of the French jet.

India has plans to purchase 126 fighter jets at a cost of up to nine billion dollars to replace its ageing MiG-21s.

Dassault's Rafale warplane is among the contenders along with US firm Lockheed Martin's F-18 and Russia's MiG-35.

New Delhi is expected to issue a request for proposals in January, the sources said.

India has 34 air squadrons, each with 12 operational jets, against a sanctioned strength of 40 squadrons.

The MiG-21s have been dubbed "flying coffins" by the media due to their frequent crashes. In March, India's defence ministry released figures showing that 54 MiG-21 fighter jets had crashed in the past seven years.