New Delhi, March 3 -- Brazil's Embraer, US-based Lockheed Martin and Russia's Ilyushin aircraft are likely to be the top contenders for the mega Indian Air Force (IAF) deal to buy 60 multirole transport aircraft.

Defence officials told ANI that the proposal is expected to be taken up soon by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for clearance.

The programme would see around 20 per cent of the planes joining the Indian Air Force in fly-away condition, while the rest of them would be manufactured in India with over 60 per cent indigenous content, defence officials told ANI.

The aircraft will be built in India through joint ventures between Indian companies and the original equipment manufacturers. Brazilian aerospace major Embraer is par...