IAF Remains Committed to AMCA, Not Considering Su-57 Based FGFA Revival

Former Indian Air Force (IAF) Marshal Anil Chopra's recent suggestion to revisit the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program has ignited discussions within the defence community. However, credible sources within the industry have confirmed that there are no plans to reconsider the FGFA program for procurement.

Experts reiterate that India's decision to withdraw from the FGFA program, which was based on the Russian Su-57 platform, was justified due to significant technical shortcomings. The FGFA reportedly failed to meet several critical requirements, exhibiting deficiencies not expected in a fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

The program's escalating costs were another major deterrent. Developing a two-seater FGFA variant could have potentially doubled the per-unit cost compared to the Su-30MKI, which is estimated to be around $70 million.

Moreover, customizing the FGFA for India's specific needs was projected to require an investment of $5 billion, significantly exceeding the $2 billion allocated for the recently approved Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.

While India did incur sunk costs during the initial stages of the FGFA program, experts believe that these expenses are relatively minor compared to the potential financial burden of continuing a program that might not have met the IAF's operational requirements.

The Indian aerospace industry's focus is now firmly on the indigenous AMCA program. With a development budget of $2 billion, the AMCA represents a more cost-effective and strategically independent path for the IAF's future fighter fleet.

 

[PKPRS]

When India produces 5th gen jets USA/China will have 7th gen jets.

Or may be 9th or 10th.

 

[Pad UwU]

May be we can share some of the components between FGFA and AMCA, I don’t how it is going to be possible when our HAL is stuggling to deliver a 4th gen jet that has basic tech on tiime.

It's possible in my opinion, only if we just renew the FGFA and call AMCA as the su57 version of India.... Then we pay the required amount of what Russian funds spend in development so we can have access of it.... If gods will its more convenient if we just ask a JV partnership of equal terms with Russia on su57 so we can change previous FGFA as the AMCA indianize version of su57 to speed up the development of our 5gen dream.... Only if we are willing to rekindle our partnership.... Sadly the current AMCA specifications is smaller than su57 it would be a bit challenging and cause more delay to continue it with the current AMCA design IMHO 😺

 

[PKPRS]

It's possible in my opinion, only if we just renew the FGFA and call AMCA as the su57 version of India.... Then we pay the required amount of what Russian funds spend in development so we can have access of it.... If gods will its more convenient if we just ask a JV partnership of equal terms with Russia on su57 so we can change previous FGFA as the AMCA indianize version of su57 to speed up the development of our 5gen dream.... Only if we are willing to rekindle our partnership.... Sadly the current AMCA specifications is smaller than su57 it would be a bit challenging and cause more delay to continue it with the current AMCA design IMHO 😺

That was the original plan, if everything would have went through according to the original plan we would have had 10-20 FGFA’s by now, for a change this time we could have a private entity in the JV instead of HAL to speed up things.

 

[desigandu]

With 5 S-400 next year, and even more that we are going to add by making locally, No way, it is impossible.

even with S-400s is my prediction

 

[Pad UwU]

That was the original plan, if everything would have went through according to the original plan we would have had 10-20 FGFA’s by now, for a change this time we could have a private entity in the JV instead of HAL to speed up things.

I believe foreign countries sabotage the partnership so that we severe the ties between Russia on Pak Fa(Su57) aka FGFA... Don't know if our government officials or army officers taking bribes😹😹😹

thats my assumption don't take it hard,... Just consider it with a grain of salt🙃🤭