Total nonsense
NO NEED FOR MRFA
NO NEED FOR PHOREN MAAL
200 TEJAS MK1 AND
200 TEJAS MK2 IS ENOUGh
Explain production schedules and the balance production and retirement of older squadrons on a year-by-year basis. Go ahead, I'll wait.
It's easy to say we shouldn't import, but the numbers mandate it, whether you like it or not.
Here's a brief of my analysis:
As of 2024, we have 33 fighter squadrons. That will fall to 31 by 2025 with the retirement of the MiG-21. Assuming that HAL can hit 9 aircraft a year by 2027-28 (a very optimistic assumption) that will allow you to bring in a new squadron by 2027-28, and one new squadron every second year thereafter. That means that by 2035-36, we would have 36 squadrons. At that point, the Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29s will be due for replacement, which (as of today) is some 14 squadrons. Even if you assume HAL can manufacture 9 Tejas Mk 2s a year by 2035-36 (again, overly optimistic), you can now add a full squadron equivalent a year. Even with this and committed orders (and with the upcoming retirement of older Su-30MKIs), the IAF won't actually reach 42 squadrons (even with AMCA, since the Tejas Mk 1 line will also end at some point) until the second half of the 2040s.
Oh, and all of that is on the assumption that everything goes right. If there were to be delays in induction of the Tejas Mk II or AMCA, or if HAL were to face delays in scaling up production, you can push that date into the 2050s, when the bulk of the Su-30MKI fleet will be approaching the end of its life.
Now, tell me this: Are you willing to risk India's defence for that long? Need it also be added that the 42 squadron requirement is outdated, and with both China and Pakistan increasing the sizes of their services, the required number has actually risen, and is now estimated to be around 45-51 squadrons?