India Needs More Than HAL to Compete in Fighter Jet Race with China, Suggest Defence Analysts

India's aspiration to build a fighter jet fleet capable of rivaling China's rapidly advancing air power is facing a critical challenge: over-reliance on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Defence analysts emphasize the urgent need for India to cultivate at least two to three additional aviation giants to compete effectively in the fighter jet race.

While HAL has a long and respected history in aerospace and defence manufacturing, it is currently overstretched and lacks the manpower to execute multiple fighter jet programs at the pace required to keep up with China.

HAL has been the cornerstone of indigenous aircraft production in India, including the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). However, the company is currently juggling numerous projects, from fighter jets to helicopters, resulting in delays and extended timelines. The complexity of modern fighter jet development demands not only substantial investment but also a highly skilled workforce.

Analysts point out that HAL currently lacks the manpower needed to aggressively pursue major programs like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) at the speed necessary to match regional competitors.

With China rapidly modernizing its fighter jet fleet, India needs to accelerate its own development cycles. Establishing multiple aerospace companies could foster competition, innovation, and faster delivery of new aircraft.

These companies could work in parallel on different projects or collaborate on specific aspects of the same project, creating a synergistic environment that propels India's aerospace capabilities forward.

Each new company could specialize in a particular domain – one focusing on stealth technology, another on avionics, and another on propulsion systems – creating a comprehensive ecosystem for advanced aircraft development.

Distributing the responsibility of fighter jet programs across multiple entities would also mitigate the risk associated with relying solely on HAL. If one company encounters setbacks, others can continue their work unimpeded.

Analysts also stress the importance of firm commitments from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for newly developed aircraft. The IAF's initial reluctance to place large orders for the Tejas Mk1 due to perceived shortcomings should not be repeated with the AMCA and TEDBF. Firm orders would signal trust in these programs and encourage faster development.

Creating new aerospace giants would require significant government support, both financially and through policy initiatives. It would also necessitate attracting and training a large pool of skilled engineers and technicians.

This approach, while promising, is not without challenges. There's a risk of redundancy and inefficient resource allocation if not managed effectively.

Clear roles, collaboration frameworks, and shared resources would be crucial to avoid duplication and waste. Building new institutions to the level of HAL would also require time and considerable investment, both of which are precious in the current strategic context.

Despite these challenges, diversifying India's aerospace and defence industrial base is essential for achieving self-reliance and competing effectively in the rapidly evolving landscape of military aviation.

By fostering a competitive and dynamic environment, India can accelerate its fighter jet development programs and ensure its air force remains a potent force in the region.

 

Experts Suggest US F-35 as Only Viable 5th-Gen Option for India, Warn J-35 Jet Deal Could Worsen Pakistan's Economic Crisis Three Engine Configuration on Chinese 6th-Gen Fighter Suggests WS-10C Limitations, Compromising Stealth for Thrust

[ksvg]

HAL has been only capable of cobbling together what is available around. They have never brought out any innovation or new product by themselves. To trust HAL to give a 5th Gen aircraft any time soon is asking for the sky. We cannot be stupid enough to wait for miracles to happen. It is high time that India woke up.

 

[FROST]

I fully agree with the suggestion. Instead of fattening the HAL known for inefficiency just to please Rahul Kal of this country better open up the industry to private sector with Indian entreuship and foreign collaboration if necessary

 

[sanket]

Which company is working on more than one fighter jet at the same time? Second, even well-established players can't produce a stealth fighter jet on their own; instead, they go for JVs. AMCA is 10 years away. China has just created a buzz by flying a mock model with an old, unperfected engine, nothing else. Third, the same IAF has now placed an order for 83 and is expected to order 97 Tejas MK1As, which defence analysts should take into account. Doing a copy-paste job is one thing, and starting from scratch is different. A copy-paste job has sure-shot profits, while designing, developing tech, and building a fighter jet is different. Even Dassault is unable to raise production over 24 jets per year; by now, it's up to 13 to 14 jets per year. What about GE? To date, they failed to deliver a single engine. How professional are these OEMs, which are well-established, have a well-developed ecosystem, skilled manpower, plus automation?

 

[Somebody]

How about GCAP, FCAS and SU-57 would these three defense Giant be enough, we can buy 40 jets each from each Giant.

 

[amerjit johal]

How about GCAP, FCAS and SU-57 would these three defense Giant be enough, we can buy 40 jets each from each Giant.

GCAP - expected into service 2035
FCAS - French and Germans will fight each other over workshare - maybe doomed project
Only SU-57 available. Which we have rejected numerous times.

 

[DB_NE_Guy]

I had no hope in HAL and ADA unless those are privatised. Tata, Reliance, Adani, and Godrej, should join hands together and take part in Tejas and AMCA/TEDBF programs.

 

[kumar]

Pak is going to get 30 5th generation jets within 2 years.
Since getting F35 is doubtful, IAF shall immediately go for Su57.

 

[Sudha]

Will the government decide to do it? It will not only break the monopoly of HAL, but it might drive HAL to be more efficient. GOI should heed the advice and give more orders to the private sector. GOI should seriously think to make HAL more competitive, and it is possible only if there are a couple of efficient competitors in the private sector.

 

[Abraham]

Instead, make peace and strengthen BRICS. Dump the QUAD because the west, especially the US wants nothing but a split in BRICS.
LET THE WISER ONE PREVAIL

 

[Parivel]

We are lagging because our political system is like that.....our politicians are so low in quality and IQ, they just Play politics in defense decisions.....

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

Yes, exactly! We need a consortium of Tata + L&T + Godrej + Adani + Reliance + Mahindra + MSMEs for the next 30-40 years.

HAL should manufacture Tejas Mk1a, Mk2, and maintain them for the next 40 years with an MRO setup with GTRE, DRDO, BEL, ADA, ADE, LRDE, DARE.

HLFT, TEDBF, and AMCA should be led by the IAF with HAL and DRDO as integrators/consultants, with the main engineering and manufacturing tasks being with the public sector:

• DARE, BEL for AESA Radar, IRST, digital flight control computer, weapons computer.
• GTRE, Godrej for engine manufacturing and MRO.
• DARE for EW jammers, self-protection systems, RWR, Litening pods.
• BHEL for landing gear.

But with one big change for the above project:

We should have over 90% of the workload with private partners like Tata, Mahindra, L&T, Adani, Reliance, Godrej, as a consortium as large-scale industrial manufacturers of wings, fuselage parts, tail, bay doors, electrical systems, fuel systems, mid-air refueling systems, radomes, ejection seat systems, canopies, engine charge amplifiers, etc., all manufactured in India.

Tire manufacturers like CEAT/MRF, MRO partners, and other MSMEs as parts and component suppliers for LRUs.

The private consortium should entirely build and maintain MRFA and/or F-35/Su-57 or even Su-75 by forming joint ventures with OEMs without HAL, DRDO.

The weapons focus should be with another consortium building Akash, Python, ASRAAM, MICA, Meteor, Rudram, SAAW, BrahMos NG, Rampage, Crystal Maze, smart bombs with guidance and glide kits, with DRDO and the public sector like BDL, BEL with private OEMs like Adani, BrahMos, and MBDA.

 

[Taus Melek]

Lets face it all the indian premier research agencies with the exception of ISRO, have failed to deliver decade after decade. Someone needs to take these entities and their respective heads to task, because they think they are un touchable - they are not.

There are key technologies that Indai need to put every effort to mastering - Stealth, Jet engines, in particular single crystal blades, Aircraft carrier design (80K tonnes plus) with EMALS, nuclear submarines (hunter killers and ICBM carriers). Use all means to aquire these technologies.

 

[Muthukumar Ponnambalam]

VERY TRUE. At least two mega private players should be in place, like Lockheed Martin or Boeing etc.

I would go a step further in suggesting to sell HAL and DRDO to any interested private players. Let them overhaul them and run efficiently unlike they being the white elephants after swallowing tax money.

 

[Leo red]

China is good for distraction diversion. Era of drones already started and they are already pumping media with lots of attention. But their real worries are drones. Such large land they can't keep up with air space. India should focus on large fleet of drones. Fighter jets are less but still useful look at Russia Ukraine war no Russian fighter normal us f16 performing there.

 

[Bhupesh Desai]

India needs to foster private companies to participate in development and manufacturing of Aircraft systems. Like Tata Aero Systems, Mahindra, L&T etc beside HAL monopolizing this industry. Also provide good pay so these folks will not defect to multinationals.

 

[beencensured]

Pak is going to get 30 5th generation jets within 2 years.
Since getting F35 is doubtful, IAF shall immediately go for Su57.

First, they have already passed SWIFT, so they should mass-produce them. Second, expedite Ghatak and Tejas Mk2. Second, get Kaveri flight-tested and certified, as it must be good since they have fixed the problems with AL-31F engines. Here, the fact that thrust variance would suit a single-engine fighter better for testing, or Su-30MKI for testing. One reason I've gathered for flight testing is to understand the thrust variance of the engine, so putting it on a MiG-29, a relatively light fighter, means both engines are Kaveri, or putting it on the centerline of the Su-30MKI is also better, as that can be used as a universal test bed and test future engines like 110-120kN, and India knows how to modify the Su-30MKI. Best to test on Tejas LSP and not waste time; after twenty years of testing, they must have an excellent engine by now. Last, all fighter planes have ejection seats that give a level of safety, and even then, the testing regime is always slowly increasing the test envelope, so if there is a problem, it will be found out much beforehand. So it's absolute nonsense that Kaveri is not being tested. The MOD is so slow, corrupt, bureaucratic, inefficient, and infiltrated that by the time they get any foreign plane, it will take five years, which leaves only local options, but then there is diplomacy too.

 

[amerjit johal]

Instead, make peace and strengthen BRICS. Dump the QUAD because the west, especially the US wants nothing but a split in BRICS.
LET THE WISER ONE PREVAIL

BRICS economy is totally dominated by China. For us (India), IMHO, it's a total waste of time.

 

[bonito]

Biggest problem is knowledge that HAL holds today. This cannot be shared to private companies. Giving a KT to private vendor for even contact manufacturing is also not possible cause HAL lacks at very good supplier management skills. Need expert skills to reform HAL else touching it is doomed.

 

[Sandeep]

The problem with the private sector is that they don’t want to commit any funds, talent or resources to design, develop and manufacture a jet, helicopter or HALE, surveillance and loiter drones. There’s nothing stopping them but they don’t want to do that and all they want to do is manufacture under a license the parts, components and the technology. This makes us heavily reliant on HAL to conduct every project and as it’s a DPSU it doesn’t attract the financial backing or necessary people with talent, skills and experience.

What needs to happen is that HAL and the private sector companies should carry out joint ventures together. This way it can help HAL by using the private sector's skilled staff, knowledge and talent along with HALs facilities, experience and resources. Afterwards several private sector companies should take over and manufacture the complete jet including all instruments and technology. This will allow the private sector to grow their companies, innovate and develop future jets, drones and helicopters on its own..

Another issue is that HAL needs to find new ways of attracting more money on the stock market by selling more shares with a higher rate of interest and returns which will reduce the amount of investment that the government has to provide for each project. HAL should be able to create a self sustaining company.

 

[netram]

This was obvious decades ago. Relying on an incompetent monopolistic entity that has a proven history of being incompetent isn't the brightest move.
For example the Chinese built multiple regional enterprises for the heavy industries specially in the case of rolling stock manufacturing(who formed their own JVs) and allowed them to compete with each other and once the competition reached a stage of diminishing returns they consolidated it into a single entity CRRC and brought it under the SASAC that answers to the state council. Their aerospace industry likewise has multiple regional players assisted by regional Govt's. Just like in the rolling stock industry where competition is a necessity in the growth phase to compel operational and technical advancements but unnecessary once you've achieved technological ascendance but they have multiple regional players in the aerospace industry but unlike the rolling stock industry, perpetual technological advancements are a strategic necessity so consolidation could lead to an absence of competition for everything from resources to technology to productivity, We could never.

 

[netram]

The problem with the private sector is that they don’t want to commit any funds, talent or resources to design, develop and manufacture a jet, helicopter or HALE, surveillance and loiter drones. There’s nothing stopping them but they don’t want to do that and all they want to do is manufacture under a license the parts, components and the technology. This makes us heavily reliant on HAL to conduct every project and as it’s a DPSU it doesn’t attract the financial backing or necessary people with talent, skills and experience.

What needs to happen is that HAL and the private sector companies should carry out joint ventures together. This way it can help HAL by using the private sector's skilled staff, knowledge and talent along with HALs facilities, experience and resources. Afterwards several private sector companies should take over and manufacture the complete jet including all instruments and technology. This will allow the private sector to grow their companies, innovate and develop future jets, drones and helicopters on its own..

Another issue is that HAL needs to find new ways of attracting more money on the stock market by selling more shares with a higher rate of interest and returns which will reduce the amount of investment that the government has to provide for each project. HAL should be able to create a self sustaining company.

Because they don't have enough resources to begin with. You really need to look into how industrial policy works or worked in countries like S.Korea and does in China. There will never be an independant India as long as we are industrially pathetic and administratively liberal and undisciplined.

 

[netram]

BRICS economy is totally dominated by China. For us (India), IMHO, it's a total waste of time.

BRICs is just nonsense.

 

[netram]

@sanket
Ever heard of iterative development ?
Sure this could be a "mockup"
But their inferior engine(which was inferior 10 years ago) was able to properly propel a "mockup". While our design hasn't even left the drawing board. We could use a little bit of humility and pragmatic constructive self criticism

 

[SanjayPalai]

We should stop debating and start acting. The danger is clearly imminent considering we are far behind China and Pakistan acquiring 5th Gen jets from China. This is very sad state since we have been talking to acquire technology from abroad and we are still not reliable 😢. What we have been doing since last 40 odd years. We don't have any fighter jets to be called as the best or at par the best in the world. What if we have been attacked by both of these enemies, who will come to save us. Time to ponder and act swiftly on an war footing.

 

[Vivek Agnihotri]

Bring in the Tata's, the Adani's, the ABG's, the L&T's. We have hundreds of World beating companies. Unleash them. It's time.