IAF and MoD Aim for MRFA Tender Decision by May 2025, Eyeing Interim Rafale F4 Purchase and 5th-Gen Options with G2G Deal

In a decisive move to address its dwindling combat strength, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) are establishing a committee to expedite fighter jet procurement. This committee will prioritize the long-delayed Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, with a major decision expected by May 2025.

This urgency stems from the critical need to prevent the IAF's squadron strength from falling to a precarious low of 28 by year's end, a mere 3-4 squadrons more than the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

The MRFA tender, initiated in 2019, aims to acquire 110 advanced fighter jets. However, the committee's mandate is not to review existing indigenous programs like the Tejas or the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), but to focus on strategies for rapidly increasing operational squadrons.

A key debate within defence circles revolves around whether to acquire 4.5 generation or 5th generation fighters. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has previously urged the IAF to consider 5th generation aircraft to compensate for MRFA delays, emphasizing the strategic need for advanced technology to maintain an edge over regional adversaries.

While the IAF's exact plans remain undisclosed, a dual approach seems likely:

• Interim Rafale F4 Procurement: The IAF may opt for an immediate, smaller purchase of 36 updated Rafale F4 jets. This would serve as a stopgap measure, leveraging existing infrastructure and training for the Rafale platform.
• Government-to-Government Deal for 5th Generation Fighters: Simultaneously, there's a push for a 5th generation fighter through government-to-government agreements. This could involve the USA (F-35), Russia (Su-57), or even European collaborations. Such a deal could significantly boost the IAF's capabilities in the coming years.

This urgency is compounded by the phasing out of older aircraft like the MiG-21 and slow induction of new indigenous jets. With the IAF aiming for 42 squadrons, each procurement decision is crucial for national security and deterrence.

The committee's efforts to expedite the MRFA tender and explore interim solutions reflect the IAF's commitment to maintaining a technologically advanced and operationally ready fighter fleet in the face of evolving regional security challenges.

 

India Set to Acquire 26 Rafale-M Jets, 3 Scorpène Submarines from France, Deal to be Finalized During PM Modi's February Visit for AI Summit DRDO Set to Test Adani Defence-Manufactured ULPGM V3 Precision Strike Drone Missile

[कृ]

Why do people write here like this is some upsc prep site. Please refrain from being cringe and report like an actual news source

 

[sanket]

Bharat will miss the Make in India opportunity with an ecosystem assembly line plus ToT with this type of approach. Neither tech transfer will happen nor will creating a manufacturing hub for fighters. The fighter jet squadron will be built on imported "maal." Second, most importantly, Dassault has an order book of over 200 fighter jets pending. Add to that the 26 Rafale M deal that will be signed. Even if a 36 Rafale F4 order is placed, what will the delivery time be? Obviously, the first Rafale Marine will be delivered, followed by Rafale F4. Dassault hasn't reached a production rate of even 20 per year. Even if they reach it, it will take eight years to finish the pending order book. By 2034, the IAF may get the first Rafale fighter jet from this 36 Rafale deal, even if it is signed in 2025.

 

[Neal.B]

Only hope is offer of F35 from Trump administration

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Staggered purchase do not get us better deals. They should have planned better and gone for 72 Rafales for IAF and 26+ (13 follow on) jets for IN together. This would have helped in getting updates, modifications and maintenance rights. Without such rights, Rafales maintenance and upgrades will be too expensive.

 

[Steel Mathi]

I think India has made a huge mistake. Instead of buying the 36 Rafale aircraft that arrived in 2016, it should have bought 150 aircraft. It is as if they bought 36 Rafale aircraft thinking that they will temporarily fix the problem and now they are craving for a fifth generation aircraft. If they buy fifth generation aircraft now, they will need a separate team to operate the 36 Rafale aircraft that they have already bought. China has flown the sixth generation aircraft and has disturbed the sleep of Indians. China is moving beyond the fifth generation and towards the sixth generation aircraft. Pakistan is also going to get the fifth generation aircraft soon. India is wondering how much benefit we will get from buying fourth generation aircraft. There are many problems with the Su 57. Now India will not get the fifth generation aircraft F35. Even if we get it, we should abandon the S-400.If India buys the expensive, high-cost F35, it will have to cooperate with the US in the future. If it does not cooperate, it will not get the parts and weapons for the F35.

The only solution to all this is if AMCA comes.

 

[Rational Guy]

The only solution to all this is if AMCA comes.

AMCA will not come in frontline duty until 2035 at least by when China will have deployed 6th generation fighters.

 

[PKPRS]

Only hope is offer of F35 from Trump administration

If we could somehow bury S-400 and Voronezh under Thar desert sand.

 

[PKPRS]

Staggered purchase do not get us better deals. They should have planned better and gone for 72 Rafales for IAF and 26+ (13 follow on) jets for IN together. This would have helped in getting updates, modifications and maintenance rights. Without such rights, Rafales maintenance and upgrades will be too expensive.

Problem with Rafale is we have to wait for 10 years to get the first Rafale, we might end up getting 200 F21’s including some sparsely used F16’s and later on F-35 who knows..

 

[Rajesh Bhatnagar]

What a joke this is. Why is it that India is always reacting very late and mostly taking reactive action? If something is done by an adversary, only then do we start thinking and take, rather waste, considerable time on it, and then take some ad hoc action that usually is not much use. We have to act proactively and take decisions faster and more timely; only then will it solve the purpose.

 

[Steel Mathi]

AMCA will not come in frontline duty until 2035 at least by when China will have deployed 6th generation fighters.

The situation of the Indian Air Force in this geopolitics is definitely like that of the ICU if AMCA had not come.

After 2030, Only patrolling and Flight adventure can be done with existing aircraft.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

AMCA will not come in frontline duty until 2035 at least by when China will have deployed 6th generation fighters.

2035 is too optimistic. You would see first squadron of AMCA in 2040s. We must plan and execute fast. We spent lot of time between 2009 and 2024 for planning, reviews and approvals. Now is the time they should start planning for 6th gen jets and intiate requirement gathering, drafting initial designs etc. So that atleast by 2030 all design reviews are over and they get CCS nod.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

@Steel Mathi
I agree with u bro. India should've ordered more than 36 Rafales' in 2016. Judging by it, IAF Sq. wouldn't have been depleted so much as in today. By 2025, all 100s of Rafales' ordered would have been already delivered.

 

[Rational Guy]

2035 is too optimistic. You would see first squadron of AMCA in 2040s. We must plan and execute fast. We spent lot of time between 2009 and 2024 for planning, reviews and approvals. Now is the time they should start planning for 6th gen jets and intiate requirement gathering, drafting initial designs etc. So that atleast by 2030 all design reviews are over and they get CCS nod.

More importantly they should do it quietly and secretly instead of blasting about fake timelines. But as usual it won't happen.

Regarding AMCA im hopeful current 6th Gen leap by China will spur us into sticking to our timeline of AMCA induction by 2035. Then squadron level should take around 2037/2038.

 

[Rational Guy]

The situation of the Indian Air Force in this geopolitics is definitely like that of the ICU if AMCA had not come.

After 2030, Only patrolling and Flight adventure can be done with existing aircraft.

The timeline I mentioned is one given by DRDO themselves not even my own projections.

There is a way to make up for our deficiency in air power. That is use missiles and swarm drones in the thousands to hit airfields of China/Pakistan as they lack VTOL aircraft presently and likely won't have them in next 10-15 years. If we destroy their airfields then we can probably negate their air power. For this we need hundreds of not thousands of Pralays, Pranash, Nirbhay missiles.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

India should have gone extra Rafales after order of 36..Now there is a huge backlog in Rafale production....India could not complete a Fighter Jet deal in 20 years (2004-24)...can any country in this world have this type of achievement...When politics is more importnat than National Security, this is the result...IAF is dead....Bad planning of IAF ruined everything...without any other plans India should not pull out from SU57 programme...at this time India could have 5th Gen fighter in their fleet but illogical and irrational behavior of India damaged everything.....

 

[ksvg]

AMCA AMCA AMCA! 2035 will not see it come by the way things are proceeding.

AMCA will not come in frontline duty until 2035 at least by when China will have deployed 6th generation fighters.

.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

For whole country 500-800 Rafales would be ok. Just look at the number of islands, border length and vastness. Assume some 30% would be under maintenance. Then this number is good estimate.

 

[Ray]

If we could somehow bury S-400 and Voronezh under Thar desert sand.

If IAF wants to procure 5th gen then there only hope is su-57.
Su-57 is not as stealthy as f-22 or f-35 but can work against Chinese stealth aircrafts (hopefully).
If trump allow the sale of f-35 to india, still IAF can't get that bird very soon because of long order book.
So IAF have three options
1) wait for f-35
2) compromise with su-57
3) go full fledge with AMCA and pressure MoD and DRDO to complete the program asap.
If IAF wants quality then they have to wait for all programs. Even al-51f is not completely ready. Then it's best to spend time and money on indigenous aircraft.

 

[MTJ Barik]

Can't we go for gripen E fighter jets considering rafale has such a huge production backlog.
IAF and govt has really messed up with rafale deal. They should have gone for follow on orders of another 36-40 fighters after the delivery of first 36 fighters.
Things could have been managed more easily

 

[ANKIT MEHTA]

Only Solution is
IAF Should Procure 44 More Rafales i.e. 80 (4 Sqdn).
IAF Must Accept Offer of HLA of 72 More Su-30 Mki (Super Sukhoi) Total Number 259+12+72 = 343 i.e. Approx 19 Sqdn
IAF Should Procure Some 60/80 5th Gen Ready Platform may be Su-57 (as Su-57 is Still Better Platform Then Other Indian Inventory).
and Apart from These IAF Should Full Focus on Tejas MK1A, Tejas MK 2 & AMCA and Must Cancel MRFA/MMRCA.

 

[Akshat]

If IAF wants to procure 5th gen then there only hope is su-57.
Su-57 is not as stealthy as f-22 or f-35 but can work against Chinese stealth aircrafts (hopefully).
If trump allow the sale of f-35 to india, still IAF can't get that bird very soon because of long order book.
So IAF have three options
1) wait for f-35
2) compromise with su-57
3) go full fledge with AMCA and pressure MoD and DRDO to complete the program asap.
If IAF wants quality then they have to wait for all programs. Even al-51f is not completely ready. Then it's best to spend time and money on indigenous aircraft.

Su57 isn't even Russia's hope for fifth gen planes. 🤣🤣

As for DRDO, no one on this planet can pressure them to do anything. 🤣🤣

 

[Surendra Barsode]

India should take 2 squadrons of F 35 from USA on lease for 10 years. This would be similar to deal with Russia for nuclear attack submarines, AMCA will be ready in the meanwhile. Now that Israel is quite secure, F35s should be available from many countries. If not 2 squadrons, then 1 squadron on lease and 1 squadron on stand by arrangement is also good enough. We should give required guarantees to USA about S 400 etc. and close the deal soon.

 

[Anant]

India should take 2 squadrons of F 35 from USA on lease for 10 years. This would be similar to deal with Russia for nuclear attack submarines, AMCA will be ready in the meanwhile. Now that Israel is quite secure, F35s should be available from many countries. If not 2 squadrons, then 1 squadron on lease and 1 squadron on stand by arrangement is also good enough. We should give required guarantees to USA about S 400 etc. and close the deal soon.

That's not how these things work. The US isn't bending over backwards to lease fighters to anyone, let alone us.

 

[Anant]

For whole country 500-800 Rafales would be ok. Just look at the number of islands, border length and vastness. Assume some 30% would be under maintenance. Then this number is good estimate.

500-800 Rafales, or 500-800 fighters? There is a massive difference between the two things.

 

[Surendra Barsode]

That's not how these things work. The US isn't bending over backwards to lease fighters to anyone, let alone us.

No harm in making offer! May be cost for other options will fall!!

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

500-800 Rafales, or 500-800 fighters? There is a massive difference between the two things.

ok 800 then for protection of 1.4 billion people and numerous valuable companies and professionals that are present within drivable distance from border.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

@Steel Mathi
I agree with u bro. India should've ordered more than 36 Rafales' in 2016. Judging by it, IAF Sq. wouldn't have been depleted so much as in today. By 2025, all 100s of Rafales' ordered would have been already delivered.

Buying just 36 Rafales made no sense. Now with their production lines full and supply chain issues there is little to no hope of quick deliveries. Should've stuck to Su 30's. Probably getting more Su 30's is what they will end up doing eventually.
Probably too late for Tejas Mk 2...a 4th Gen fighter program that doesn't yet have a flying prototype and is beset my innumerable delays seems like a waste of money now.

 

[Bikramjeet Goswami]

@Rational Guy
The Chinese might be willing to cut a deal with India. We are far more important trade partner than any of our "unfriendly" neighbours and their primary focus is the USA, not us. Given that much of India's industrial base is reliant on Chinese imports would work against us in any potential conflict.

 

[Sandeep]

The best option, least costliest and quickest way to increase the number of jets is to go for another repeat order of 36 more Rafale jets but with the latest technology, ISE and variant included. We should also negotiate this deal along with the Rafale marine jets that we will purchase so that we can reduce the price as much as possible. If we split the deal between the navy and air force then the price will cost more for the air force and navy individually.

We should also scrap the MRCA competition deal as it’s going to be too expensive by easily costing over $25b, we won’t get the main critical technology like radar, EW, engine, jet computer etc transferred to us or get to manufacture a large percentage amount of the jets indigenously with Indian raw content.

While this foreign deal is possible we need to focus on manufacturing the Tejas MK1A jets on time and without delays as all of the technology, equipment and software etc is certified safe and works reliably.

What we urgently need to do is quickly design and manufacture the Tejas MK2 and AMCA prototypes as we will need to install and test the technology and its capabilities to ensure that they work properly, without any problems and it gets certified. Those two jets are the most important jets that we will need and have to rely on for the next 30-50 years.