IAF Rejects Reports of Trump Pressure in MRFA Fighter Jet Tender, Assures Impartial Evaluation and Merit-Based Selection

An Indian Air Force (IAF) official has categorically dismissed claims that the incoming Trump administration in the United States would exert pressure on India to select American fighter jets for its Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program.

The official clarified that all foreign fighter jets competing in the MRFA tender would undergo a fair and impartial evaluation, with no undue political influence favouring U.S.-made aircraft.

This statement comes in response to a report published by an American-owned Indian website, which speculated that the Trump administration might leverage its political influence to push for the selection of one of the three U.S.-origin combat aircraft vying for the MRFA contract.

The report suggested that such a move could serve as a form of "blood money" to diplomatically resolve the politically sensitive Pannun dispute, currently under legal proceedings in a New York court. It implied that the U.S. might shield Indian officials and leaders from allegations in exchange for a favourable decision in the MRFA tender.

The IAF official firmly rejected these claims, emphasizing that all fighter jets, including the American offerings (Boeing F-15EX, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and Lockheed Martin F-21), would be judged strictly on their technical and operational merits.

It is worth noting that the French Dassault Rafale, already in service with the IAF, is widely considered a frontrunner in the MRFA competition due to its proven capabilities and compatibility with Indian operational requirements.

The MRFA program, which aims to procure 114 multi-role fighter aircraft for the IAF, is still in its early stages. The official cautioned that the program has not yet received an Acceptance of Necessity (AON) from the Ministry of Defence, a critical approval required to proceed to the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage where formal bids would be invited.

The IAF's insistence on maintaining a level playing field aligns with India's broader approach to defence procurement, which prioritizes operational requirements and cost-effectiveness over external pressures.

The official's comments underscore that while American fighter jets are viable contenders, their success in the MRFA tender hinges on their ability to meet India's stringent performance criteria and industrial partnership requirements under the Make in India initiative.

The MRFA program is expected to significantly enhance the IAF's combat capabilities, replacing ageing platforms and addressing a dwindling squadron strength. However, the program's progress remains slow, with geopolitical speculation and unverified claims often clouding the discourse surrounding its execution.

For now, the IAF appears committed to a transparent and impartial evaluation process, ensuring the selection of the most suitable aircraft for India's defence needs.

 

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[PKPRS]

We already have the locally made 4.5 gen Tejas Mk2, so we don't need a foreign 4.5 gen jet. If at all we buy anything foreign, it should be a 5th-gen jet like the Su-57 until the 10th gen AMCA is ready.

 

[sanket]

Apart from technical parameters, the one who offers a local assembly line, ToT, a local ecosystem, plus a local private production partner with export potential will be preferred.

 

[desigandu]

Let us scrap MRFA and buy 50 F-35s and another 36 Rafales, both in fly away condition G2G with deliveries complete by 2030, and the balance savings of almost $10B (MRFA Rafales for 114 would cost almost $30B in my forecast) saved reinvested in accelerating Tejas Mk2, TEDBF, AMCA, High Thrust Engine, Ghatak, Test Facilities etc!

 

[abhinav srivastava]

After Trump's govt, nobody knows who will come. They may be as ghatiya as Biden-Harris. Trying to break India thru khalistanis and kuki ricebag. To get F35 they would want us to behave like vassals. Say no to US military platforms.
Costly 4th gen MRFA should be shelved. Tejas series will be enough for 4th gen jets. We should procure some 5th gen jets as AMCA won't enter production before 2040.

 

[Arz786]

Let us scrap MRFA and buy 50 F-35s and another 36 Rafales, both in fly away condition G2G with deliveries complete by 2030, and the balance savings of almost $10B (MRFA Rafales for 114 would cost almost $30B in my forecast) saved reinvested in accelerating Tejas Mk2, TEDBF, AMCA, High Thrust Engine, Ghatak, Test Facilities etc!

Agree. In light of Chinese development of fifth-generation and so-called sixth-generation aircraft and their readiness to donate three to four squadrons of such fifth-generation combat aircraft to Pakistan, we need to shore up our falling strength by buying fifth-generation aircraft. The only fifth-generation proven aircraft is the F-35. I think the Su-57 may be considered if and only if it is considerably cheaper. Also, Lockheed Martin (F-35 OEM) will be subject to offset obligations, but Russia will never sign up for offset obligations.

 

[Chinese eater]

After Trump's govt, nobody knows who will come. They may be as ghatiya as Biden-Harris. Trying to break India thru khalistanis and kuki ricebag. To get F35 they would want us to behave like vassals. Say no to US military platforms.
Costly 4th gen MRFA should be shelved. Tejas series will be enough for 4th gen jets. We should procure some 5th gen jets as AMCA won't enter production before 2040.

Rafale is much more expensive than F35. What's the point then ? Especially when our adversaries going to have 5th gen and another flight testing 6th gen. Expensive Rafale is not serving our purpose. We already late to buy them. At the point with our enemies having 5&6th gen. Further Rafale purchase must be dropped. Accelerate AMCA or some other way

 

[Asish Kumar]

Rafale is much more expensive than F35. What's the point then ? Especially when our adversaries going to have 5th gen and another flight testing 6th gen. Expensive Rafale is not serving our purpose. We already late to buy them. At the point with our enemies having 5&6th gen. Further Rafale purchase must be dropped. Accelerate AMCA or some other way

Su57 is the solution, , ,
we can't depend on USA for F35

 

[Leo red]

By this time atleast load thousands of air defence network including missiles and jamming systems. And add decoys with it to confuse enemies. Add hundreds of Tejas also load new mig29s too.

 

[Sudha]

we need to shore up our falling strength by buying fifth-generation aircraft. The only fifth-generation proven aircraft is the F-35.

After the false panun & Adani cases in US, after the armtwisting by US on F404 engines, you still want Bharat to purchase F35? Off course it is the best 5th gen plane, but what Bharat will have to sacrifice for the same?

 

[Rajesh]

Until and unless bold leaders are not elected like Putin or Benjamin, we will be put to the knife by America and even that pimp Younus. What we lack are engines, but neither do we have any money to develop one nor even basic facilities to test a diesel engine. We only know one thing: to sit on files delaying funding and open that loud mouth shouting for self-reliance, delay the process, and panic import, resulting in large electoral bonds and Rafale watches like the previous regime's kickbacks. Nothing different, just the same operational module.

 

[PKPRS]

By this time atleast load thousands of air defence network including missiles and jamming systems. And add decoys with it to confuse enemies. Add hundreds of Tejas also load new mig29s too.

We are already in that process, we are building UHF and VHF radar's, license building Russia's Voronezh Over the Horizon Radar to track stealth fighter jets.