Govt Should Consider "Over-the-Counter" 5th Gen Fighter Jet Purchase if MRFA Delays Continue: Parliamentary Committee May Urge

A forthcoming report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence is expected to reiterate its call for the government to consider acquiring fifth-generation fighter aircraft "over the counter" if the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) project faces further delays. This highlights growing concerns over the Indian Air Force's (IAF) dwindling fighter squadron strength and the urgent need to bolster its capabilities.

The committee previously expressed concerns about the slow pace of the MRFA program, which aims to procure 114 advanced fighter jets. They emphasized the risk of it becoming another protracted acquisition process, similar to the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and the Kaveri jet engine programs.

The committee's recommendation is to "consider buying state-of-the-art fifth-generation fighter aircraft over the counter, without losing time, to keep the force in a comfortable position." This reflects the urgency of the situation, as the IAF's squadron numbers continue to decline.

While acknowledging the IAF's current capabilities, the report underscores the need for modernization. The $20 billion MRFA project is crucial for this, aiming to procure advanced jets under the "Make in India" framework to foster technology transfer and domestic production. However, bureaucratic delays and the complex tendering process have hampered progress.

Currently, India lacks a fifth-generation fighter jet. While the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program aims to address this gap, the indigenous platform is still under development and unlikely to enter service before 2035.

In this context, "over-the-counter" acquisition of operational fifth-generation jets, such as the American F-35, could provide a temporary solution to address immediate capability shortfalls. However, this approach comes with significant costs and might bypass the long-term benefits of domestic manufacturing initiatives.

The committee's anticipated reiteration of its recommendation reflects a pragmatic acknowledgment of the IAF's immediate needs. However, the government must balance these short-term acquisitions with its long-term vision of developing a self-reliant defense ecosystem. While "over-the-counter" purchases may address immediate challenges, they could potentially hinder indigenous programs like the AMCA and the Kaveri engine.

 

[Invi Pass]

150 F35 for 20 billion usd??? Are you talking about barebones planes sir?

Each barebones F35 comes for between $80 to $100 million. So bare bones cost will be $15 billion and add another 5 billion for customisation and weapons. So total should come to same price $20 billion

Now if we go for rafale 4. It won't cost less than $200 million per aircraft including customisation and weapons will cost more. Now do the math and you will know which is more expensive from purchase price.

Ofcourse maintenance cost of a F-35 and flying cost is much higher but then it's a true blue 5th generation fighter jet not a patch up like any other aircraft.

Even if overall cost comes to $200 million per aircraft for the F-35 it will be much more potent than a Rafale.

 

[Invi Pass]

We must buy few squadrons of SU57 with India specific inputs. It will be much more advanced than any MRFA jet in consideration.

Russia is a failed Superpower. It's industry is in such shambles that it has to start using world war 2 era tanks from movie clubs. After what has happened in Ukraine, the west will never support Russia next 25 to 50 years and thus their weapons systems will resemble more like the Chinese. More fluff than substance.

I am not saying Russia is not able to design and develop a fighter jet. But it's struggling to even integrate a new engine with the Su-57s and even manufacture in mass.

 

[Surfer]

Just scrap the MRFA & go for G2G 114 +26 Rafale M =140 Rafale under Make in India or If Dassault Resist or unwilling for starting Local Assembly Line with Eco-system then go for Su-57

Scrapping MRFA is OK, but buying 140 4th gen Rafale is ridiculous after French tech in Scorpene SUB failed to detect a huge unsophisticated object on the surface that cost 10,000 Rs and collided, when cheap Submarines detect good, after this incident it is really hard to trust French tech any more, India had enough already, India doesn’t want a failed tech anymore.