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.

 

[sanket]

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

 

[Invi Pass]

$20 billion can get 150 F-35 jets or 200 Su-57s but then you cannot have both. But it seems our defense planners cannot see stealth fighters maybe they think they are invisible to the eyes.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

In next 10 years we will develop one more 4th gen fighter apart from Tejas Mk1A. AMCA will not be inducted anytime before 2040. It is a long wait for us to get AMCA. USA can not be trusted with critical military platform. You never know when they block access or put restrictions.
We must buy few squadrons of SU57 with India specific inputs. It will be much more advanced than any MRFA jet in consideration.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

Honestly, there is no 5 gen fighters on offer in the International Market for India. Doubt if US might offer F-35 Unless India make considerable concession in the form of geopolitical affairs. Moreover, it will come with lots of do's and don'ts. As for Su-57, there is CAATSA even if Russia allow India to produce locally.
Idea of buying 5 gen fighters under MRFA is good through.

 

[White T POISON]

Scrap the mrfa. Do direct deal with french for 114 rafales and set up manufacturing plant. Then go to the Americans and buy the f-15EX and set up manufacturing plant for 120 f-15EX and then make a deal of 72 typhoons and set up plant for it. All three are needed for the IAF as well as 18-36 f-35A or 54 su-57's.

 

[Hugo Sanchez]

If GoI want to take this path, i think the sensible thing will be, to aquire 3-4 squads of f35 and 2-3 squads of rafale.
And scrap the mrfa.

 

[Chinese eater]

In next 10 years we will develop one more 4th gen fighter apart from Tejas Mk1A. AMCA will not be inducted anytime before 2040. It is a long wait for us to get AMCA. USA can not be trusted with critical military platform. You never know when they block access or put restrictions.
We must buy few squadrons of SU57 with India specific inputs. It will be much more advanced than any MRFA jet in consideration.

F35 purchase model like how Israel bought can be explored. Anyway once American fighter jets comes into IAF then soon all our indigenous projects will be sabotaged by Americans agents and American paid Indian agents. That is how America works

 

[Ysmir Rewari]

Aah, I miss the days in 2020, reading claims that AMCA would have it's prototype released in 2024, waiting one day 4 years will pass and I will see videos of AMCA taking it's first flight. But unfortunately we have inefficient ADA/HAL that refuse keep adding +2, +3, +4 to the timeline.

When an adversary attacks and these systems are needed, unfortunate IAF pilots will lose their lives and we would wonder, what could have been had AMCA been ready on TIME!

 

[Pramkumar]

better to order more money for the Kaveri engine.

 

[desigandu]

The Russian stealth jets are unproven and mostly on paper, the American stealth jets are not on offer, China is our enemy with almost 500-1000 stealth planes by 2035, AMCA will not fly before 2035, GCAP & FCAS 6th gen programs may fly only by 2035-2040 and we are not part of it, Pakistan may get J-31 stealth planes by 2030 - so what is our plans around stealth jets for penetrating contested air spaces!

 

[PARASHURAM]

Be patient. But where is the option were we can buy 5th generation fighter. Nobody will give you this kind of technology. Already we have upgradation of su:30 aircraft which is in 5th generation standards. At this point of time we have to wait for a long period until we get advance medium combat aircraft AMCA. Because We have already lost a valuable decade in efficiency of some people.

 

[Spectre]

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

French tech is not reliable after Scorpene disaster, it is better to avoid any French product, they are super expensive unreliable tech.

 

[Spectre]

The Russian stealth jets are unproven and mostly on paper, the American stealth jets are not on offer, China is our enemy with almost 500-1000 stealth planes by 2035, AMCA will not fly before 2035, GCAP & FCAS 6th gen programs may fly only by 2035-2040 and we are not part of it, Pakistan may get J-31 stealth planes by 2030 - so what is our plans around stealth jets for penetrating contested air spaces!

French junk tech is proven in Scorpene disaster followed by decommissioning.

 

[desigandu]

French junk tech is proven in Scorpene disaster followed by decommissioning.

France has no stealth jets that it can offer! Rafales, even version F5, will be obsolete by 2040!

 

[Akshat]

$20 billion can get 150 F-35 jets or 200 Su-57s but then you cannot have both. But it seems our defense planners cannot see stealth fighters maybe they think they are invisible to the eyes.

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

 

[Akshat]

In next 10 years we will develop one more 4th gen fighter apart from Tejas Mk1A. AMCA will not be inducted anytime before 2040. It is a long wait for us to get AMCA. USA can not be trusted with critical military platform. You never know when they block access or put restrictions.
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 even less trustworthy, not to mention that Su57 is anyways a junk.

 

[Akshat]

F35 purchase model like how Israel bought can be explored. Anyway once American fighter jets comes into IAF then soon all our indigenous projects will be sabotaged by Americans agents and American paid Indian agents. That is how America works

And yet most of the top arms exporters in the world are Allie’s of US 😂😂