India Demands Full Domestic Manufacturing for MRFA Fighter Jet Program

In a move signalling a bold shift in its defense acquisition strategy, India's government has seeking a new policy mandating complete fighter jet production within the country for its upcoming Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program. This decision signifies a significant departure from previous 'Make in India' initiatives that focused on partial domestic production.

Under this revised policy, any company bidding for the lucrative MRFA contract, estimated at $23 billion, must be willing to establish a manufacturing facility in India capable of producing the entire aircraft. Additionally, the government seeks comprehensive technology transfer and a joint venture with a local partner for full-scale production.

This move is seen as a clear step towards India's goal of achieving 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliance) in defense. While the policy change may delay the much-needed acquisition of fighter jets for the Indian Air Force, it is aimed at bolstering the domestic aerospace industry and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

Several leading aircraft manufacturers, including Dassault, Boeing, SAAB, Lockheed Martin, and others, are reportedly vying for the MRFA contract. However, the new policy raises the stakes for these companies, forcing them to re-evaluate their bids and propose a comprehensive plan for complete aircraft production in India.

Industry analysts expect a new global tender incorporating these stringent requirements to be issued soon. However, the policy shift is also anticipated to further delay the MRFA acquisition process, given the complexity of setting up full-fledged manufacturing and technology transfer.

The Indian Air Force currently operates with 31 fighter jet squadrons, significantly below the sanctioned strength of 42. While the new policy aims to build long-term capabilities, it also underscores the immediate need for the Air Force to bridge the gap in its fighter fleet.

The success of this ambitious policy change will hinge on effective collaboration between the government, foreign vendors, and domestic partners. The challenges ahead are considerable, but if successful, the MRFA program could significantly boost India's domestic aerospace industry and propel it towards greater self-reliance in defense.

 

[beencensured]

Big words when our own project languishes in eternal delays. I have previously mentioned, I have no issues if the domestic DPSU can deliver the project as per specifications within time frame. Unfortunately, they have proven that they cant. Over and over they continue to miss deadlines with projects languishing in perpetual delays. In such a scenario they leave us with no choice but to rely on imported defense equipment.

Unfortunately when DPSU are incapable of meeting requirements on time, they dont really have right to complain if services scout for alternatives to fill capability void as they simply cant wait for decades to see the requested platform enter prototype testing and then subsequent production. Moreover till the time they enter service, the core avionics architecture around which its designed would have become obsolete.

Most delays are because west has infiltrated our procurement system with agents like yourself. They do not have same requirements of domestic. Foreign products though totally unsuitable like terrorist Canadian Stryker are not able to perform on high altitude s, but then they request them to modify engines as to suit, but better Mahindra and Tatas they cannot tell even short commings. Then you want to depend on trojan products. Americans are most untrustworthy.

 

[beencensured]

If it is so, why can't you manufacture a hitech plane & sell it to Indian military? 🤔

Okay, I propose a twin engine Tejas. It would be better the MRFA.

 

[Pad UwU]

Hmmm 🤔🧐
Would the foreign company like Boeing, Dassault, Eurofighter Consortium(BAE systems, Airbus, RR's, Leonardo, MBDA, and many more), LM, Saab, and Rostec(Sukhoi/Mig) be allowed to own it 100% or need local partnership???...

in my opinion the foreign company who will be winning in MRFA procurement should be allow owning it 100% of the production/manufacturing division to hasten up the process but they need to put Indian executives in it with a 80% Indian work force working in the Indian division.... It is better that going local partnership that might hinder the process of establishing the production/manufacturing company... because of our bureaucracy 😹😹😹 look for example our famous HAL always delayed or scrap it's project LMAO 😹😹😹

 

[War is good for business]

Seriously? When US is blackmailing Bharat on F404, how can you trust US on F414 for which only 80% TOT is promised. It seems France has now become the only nation which is reliable even when their products are very costly.

Has anyone ever given 80% or more ToT on jet engines?

 

[Anant]

Okay, I propose a twin engine Tejas. It would be better the MRFA.

I propose a seventh generation jet that can manage hypersonic speeds. Just saying something doesn't make it real.

 

[wallisk]

Hmmm 🤔🧐
Would the foreign company like Boeing, Dassault, Eurofighter Consortium(BAE systems, Airbus, RR's, Leonardo, MBDA, and many more), LM, Saab, and Rostec(Sukhoi/Mig) be allowed to own it 100% or need local partnership???...

in my opinion the foreign company who will be winning in MRFA procurement should be allow owning it 100% of the production/manufacturing division to hasten up the process but they need to put Indian executives in it with a 80% Indian work force working in the Indian division.... It is better that going local partnership that might hinder the process of establishing the production/manufacturing company... because of our bureaucracy 😹😹😹 look for example our famous HAL always delayed or scrap it's project LMAO 😹😹😹

GoI says manufacture every single nut bolt and screw in India, a simply IMPOSSIBLE task! UK MB will NEVER give away it's tech's as they are the de facto number one standard ejection seats in the world compared only next to Zvezda of Russia....

 

[wallisk]

What is the name of the fiction? 4th gen to be upgraded to 5th? WOW!! Even a layman knows it is not possible. I will purchase it first when you release your book. 🤣😂

IAF ACM asked for that at the 1st launch of MMRCA2.0 - an article appeared here itself..

 

[Pad UwU]

GoI says manufacture every single nut bolt and screw in India, a simply IMPOSSIBLE task! UK MB will NEVER give away it's tech's as they are the de facto number one standard ejection seats in the world compared only next to Zvezda of Russia....

Nah, why would they answer that they are willing to build plants here or doing JV partnership 🤔🧐.... ie,. Dassault France doing a takeover or might not possible just continue the partnership with our local company.... Give some more credible source instead 😹

 

[abhinav srivastava]

France is the only one who can clear the trials and do this.

They wont give full tech. Either Russia or older US jets like renamed F16 will provide full tech.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

I am still wondering what technology would be gained by MRFA which all planes seem outdated.

You'll get full tech only for outdated jets. No one will give you bleeding edge tech for 100-150 jets. Wait for back door entry of 1970's jets of US. May be they want India to use 1970's jets till 2070's.

 

[wallisk]

Nah, why would they answer that they are willing to build plants here or doing JV partnership 🤔🧐.... ie,. Dassault France doing a takeover or might not possible just continue the partnership with our local company.... Give some more credible source instead 😹

MRO plant DOES NOT mean 100% ToT my dear fella - GoI wants BOTH 100% ToT's AND a 100% manufacturing plant in India...

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Has anyone ever given 80% or more ToT on jet engines?

People use small fish as bait to lay trap for bigger fish.

 

[wallisk]

Pressure doesn't work, only carrots work.

And, Carrot = $50 to $60 BILLIONs of usd deal for just 114 fighter jets.....

 

[Anant]

When did IAF shortlist which plane they want in MRFA to blame MOD?

The RfP can be issued only after the AoN is given. As such, the ball has been in the MoD's court for a very long time.

 

[Anant]

First they need AoN from DAC to issue the RFP.

Isn't it the DPB that issues the AoN rather than the DAC?

 

[Anant]

Brother, abhi tender hi release nehi hua.. MOD ko knock baad main karna

Tender / RfP is issued after the AoN is given by the MoD.

Remember the flow: EoI -> AoN -> RfP -> Bid submission -> Bid evaluation -> DAC final clearance -> Final negotiations -> CCS clearance -> Contract signing.

 

[Anant]

So MRFA is not happening any sooner as nobody will give away 100% rights on a platter for only 126 planes.... with Tejas prodn. struck, going down to 29/30 squardens after retirement of MIGs, we r not able to cross the tendering phase yet.. wow.. this project will find its place in Guinness world records

28 squadrons at most once the MiG-21 bows out, and possibly dropping even further with the impending retirement of DARIN II Jaguars.

 

[Anant]

Better we make F-35 or F-16 block 70/72 aka F-21 or Rafale F-5 under make in India !

For the latter two of those to have any chance of winning MRFA, the MoD needs to issue the AoN.

 

[Anant]

Most delays are because west has infiltrated our procurement system with agents like yourself. They do not have same requirements of domestic. Foreign products though totally unsuitable like terrorist Canadian Stryker are not able to perform on high altitude s, but then they request them to modify engines as to suit, but better Mahindra and Tatas they cannot tell even short commings. Then you want to depend on trojan products. Americans are most untrustworthy.

You do realise that 95% of the delays in Tejas are attributable to domestic reasons, right? The US is not a trustworthy friend beyond a point, sure, but we have far larger problems domestically.

 

[Anant]

De facto shortlisting the 3: F-21/ Rafale/Russian

Boeing wont get any approvals to shift entire F-15EX or even F-18. Americans will hand over F-21 production lines that IAF will junk. Grippen is no go due to Mk2
Leaves Su-57 and Rafale to be realistic...wait and watch...this basically is India, for the first time, arm twisting the vendors instead of getting arm twisted by them. I also think this is India telling France...enough of BS..handover produciton or we are byung Su-57

Boeing might actually agree to shift the F-18 line to India, considering it is at an end. Regardless, I am of the opinion that we should not necessarily go for the F-18.