India's Fighter Jet Dilemma: Why the Air Force Says 'We Need Both Pilots AND Drones'

The Indian Air Force is at a crossroads. They've got fancy new drones and plans for even more high-tech unmanned planes in the works. But here's the thing: they're saying those unmanned fighters can't do it all. India, they explain, needs a full fleet of old-school, pilot-flown fighter jets... 42 squadrons of 'em, to be exact!

Why all the fuss? It's about India's neighbors. With countries like China and Pakistan constantly upgrading their own air forces, India feels the pressure to be ready for anything – even a potential war on two fronts at once.

Drones: The Cool New Kid, But...​

Sure, those unmanned planes are super helpful. They can spy on enemies, keep a watchful eye on borders, and, sometimes, even launch an attack. But India's Air Force brass says pilots are irreplaceable when things get really intense.

Think of it like this: a pilot in the cockpit can make split-second decisions, change plans if the situation goes sideways, and pull off crazy maneuvers that might give India the edge in a dogfight.

The Enemy Factor​

Here's another wrinkle: China and Pakistan are also buying up these unmanned fighters. India doesn't want to get left behind in the drone race. But they also don't want to fall behind in the "classic" fighter jet game either. It's a tricky balance!

Drones have their downsides too. They can be hacked, sometimes can't quite think for themselves when missions get complicated, and they need a lot of people back at base keeping them connected and running smoothly.

The Bottom Line​

India's Air Force is saying "yes" to progress, but also "no" to putting all their eggs in the drone basket. Balancing pilots and unmanned planes is the name of the game, all to make sure India's got the airpower it needs to handle whatever comes its way. The future of air combat is going to be a fascinating mix of humans and machines working side-by-side!

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

They should buy another 2 squadrons of rafale, close the mrfa saga.invest in airforce version of tedbf along with Amca. 4plus gen will be staying for another 40 years.

 

[sanket]

without MRFA Not possible reaching 42 sqad Fighter Jets.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

Mass production of Tejas variants is the only option to achieve them . MRFA should be abondoned after an order of 36 additional Rafales on urgent basis.

 

[Akshat]

They should buy another 2 squadrons of rafale, close the mrfa saga.invest in airforce version of tedbf along with Amca. 4plus gen will be staying for another 40 years.

Tedbf is nowhere in sight, AMCA is nowhere in sight. Chuck it, Tejas Mk2 isn't gonna be available for ordering till 2040. They should immediately process MRFA and order 114 Made in India jets.

 

[Akshat]

Mass production of Tejas variants is the only option to achieve them . MRFA should be abondoned after an order of 36 additional Rafales on urgent basis.

Mass production of Tejas isn't possible with HAL. Not to mention, it simply can't meet our needs and Mk2 and AMCA ain't on the horizon for another 15 years or more. MRFA is now an existential requirement and must be processed on warp speed.

 

[GMR]

Mass production of Tejas variants is the only option to achieve them . MRFA should be abondoned after an order of 36 additional Rafales on urgent basis.

HAL has demonstrated its efficiency in prodn. of fixed wing aircrafts. With no other OEM participating in Tejas, expecting HAL to mass produce Tejas, along with bottlenecks like engines, will be asking for the moon. MRFA is the only hope to increase quantity, but IAF's approach so far in the project is very very dissappinting.

 

[NSR]

There is no way in the world for IAF to get to 42 squadron strength for at least two decades without a fighter engine of its own and without private companies participation in the productions.
Remember that Mig-21s and Jaguars will be retired enmasse and that amounts to about 8 squadrons loss.
Just almighty impossible.

USA is going to build hundreds and perhaps thousands of T-7A Red Hawks trainers soon.
So USA DoD will prioritize GE F-404 for its own requirements.

India, GoI, MoD, HAL, etc must hurry up and negotiate a licensed production of GE F-404 in India ASAP.
Just like the GE F-414 licensed production to secure timely deliveries of F-404 fighter engines.

Perhaps, India must jointly invest with USA GE to enhance the performances of F-414 and F-404 for Indian environment requirements.
It is one of the best way for GTRE to upgrade its fighter engine skill sets.

 

[yogesh]

Reference the article, this would perhaps be a minimum requirement with UAVs & UCAVs but the defense forces may also need to consider the following:

1. Autonomous platforms for bombers for contested airspaces
2. Autonomous fighter jets for contested airspace
3. MDO
4. Theater commands for MDO
5. Expansion of space domain
6. Establishing air & space forces
7. Infusion of technologies in each domain
8. Training programs for defense forces
9. Hyperspecializations in the defense forces
10. Establishing defense nodes in every district headquarter with C2 as a backward integration approach

 

[shivkumar sinha]

Mass production of Tejas isn't possible with HAL. Not to mention, it simply can't meet our needs and Mk2 and AMCA ain't on the horizon for another 15 years or more. MRFA is now an existential requirement and must be processed on warp speed.

I am in favour of reducing HAL's role in producing all aircrafts including Tejas gradually to zero and unlike some posters, I think Bharat can easily afford $25-30 billions for MRFA without endangering acquisitions of indigenous fighters . I downgrade necessity of MRFA due to other reasons. MRFA will not result in any significant transfer of technology. Potential air war against PLA will not allow both sides to send 4th generation fighters to cross the borders due to presence of dense air defence environment except to be used to fire stand off and long range missiles,CATS hunters .Those operations can be efficiently handled by our home grown fighters and upgraded Su -30 s . Next war with china will be protracted for months .This will require huge volume of munitions,spares that can only be handled through indigenous productions . A limited squadrons of Rafales will be useful in SEAD and DEAD operations across LAC.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

HAL has demonstrated its efficiency in prodn. of fixed wing aircrafts. With no other OEM participating in Tejas, expecting HAL to mass produce Tejas, along with bottlenecks like engines, will be asking for the moon. MRFA is the only hope to increase quantity, but IAF's approach so far in the project is very very dissappinting.

Engine bottleneck is only a fiction. .We can get as many GE F-404 engines as we want. HAL has already outsourced Tejas components to private industries. HAL can reduce its role to a primary integrator . MRFA must be scrapped after an order of 36 additional Rafales.

 

[Pramkumar]

15 sqn each of Mk1a MK2 and ORCA and Amca

 

[vasu gali]

Better to go for 5th gen plane like F-35 Or Su-57 as the 4.5 gen technology could become outdated /obsolete

 

[Akshat]

I am in favour of reducing HAL's role in producing all aircrafts including Tejas gradually to zero and unlike some posters, I think Bharat can easily afford $25-30 billions for MRFA without endangering acquisitions of indigenous fighters . I downgrade necessity of MRFA due to other reasons. MRFA will not result in any significant transfer of technology. Potential air war against PLA will not allow both sides to send 4th generation fighters to cross the borders due to presence of dense air defence environment except to be used to fire stand off and long range missiles,CATS hunters .Those operations can be efficiently handled by our home grown fighters and upgraded Su -30 s . Next war with china will be protracted for months .This will require huge volume of munitions,spares that can only be handled through indigenous productions . A limited squadrons of Rafales will be useful in SEAD and DEAD operations across LAC.

1. ToT- The point of MRFA is to indeed create an alternative to HAL by letting a private sector company get involved in the production. Our last deal for Rafales led to acquisition of many critical technologies like radar TRMs and laser wave missiles. So this can be a complete gamechanger and can flip the entire aerospace ecosystem in a way never seen before in history.
2. War with China is not going to happen anyways. There is a reason why no major countries have gone to war between themselves since WW2- the cost is just too dam high.
3. MRFA itself involves local production of both the planes and spares.

 

[Akshat]

15 sqn each of Mk1a MK2 and ORCA and Amca

Where are mk2, ORCA and AMCA? In fact, where is mk1a?

 

[shivkumar sinha]

1. ToT- The point of MRFA is to indeed create an alternative to HAL by letting a private sector company get involved in the production. Our last deal for Rafales led to acquisition of many critical technologies like radar TRMs and laser wave missiles. So this can be a complete gamechanger and can flip the entire aerospace ecosystem in a way never seen before in history.
2. War with China is not going to happen anyways. There is a reason why no major countries have gone to war between themselves since WW2- the cost is just too dam high.
3. MRFA itself involves local production of both the planes and spares.

If something like Airbus -TASL consortium making C295 happens with significant local production and ToT ,this may be beneficial but again question of timelines will arise . If first fighters comes out of assembly line after 10 years,it will be useless . If it can be made to happen within 5-6 years,it is ok . Regarding to your 2nd point that war between china and India will never happen,I will keep my fingers crossed as you can't expect any rational decision by dictators like jinping, surrounded by yesmen. He can launch attack to distract his own people from many internal crises without caring for immense suffering of his own troops and airmen.

 

[Akshat]

If something like Airbus -TASL consortium making C295 happens with significant local production and ToT ,this may be beneficial but again question of timelines will arise . If first fighters comes out of assembly line after 10 years,it will be useless . If it can be made to happen within 5-6 years,it is ok . Regarding to your 2nd point that war between china and India will never happen,I will keep my fingers crossed as you can't expect any rational decision by dictators like jinping, surrounded by yesmen. He can launch attack to distract his own people from many internal crises without caring for immense suffering of his own troops and airmen.

That is the point. Local production with significant ToT. That’s what MRFA is for. As for timeline, it will still come out well before what mk2 can potentially achieve. The tender for MMRCA (and even C295) had set first delivery (off the shelf) in 3 years, and first Made in India jet in 5 years. So it is all dependent on when we order.

Look at Ukraine Russia war bro. Xi is still more rational than Put!n. And even Put!n hasn’t dared to attack Sweden and all. Only weak countries like Ukraine (and earlier Georgia) got attacked. He is surrounded by yes men v cause they believe that he can hold it all together and they all can share the spoils of the loot. But when it becomes clear to other officers, politicians and businessmen that he will lead to total destruction, even he will be taken down.

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

Better to go for 5th gen plane like F-35 Or Su-57 as the 4.5 gen technology could become outdated /obsolete

How outdated bro ? USA procuring F-15EX & ordering new batches of Super hornet ; Russia procuring Su-35 , Su-30 ; UK procuring Super Hornet , France & other countries procuring Rafale... Every single country is procuring 4.5 gen fighter planes...

4th generation will not become obsolete as EW suit , sensors , radars , Mission computers , etc all will be upgraded ... Not to forget about Man-machine teamup in next decade, where there will be a mother-ship and all other things will be done by drones ( CATS warriors )

 

[Frank]

Order 300 Tejas mk2 and cancel phoren maal MRFA...
The delivery timeline will be same anyway
Plus price of 300 mk2<<<<104 rafale
300mk2 ORDER WILL BE DEVIDED 50:50 BETWEEN HAL AND PRIVATE COMAPNY

114 Rafale will cost around 30-35 billion
In 2016 F3 rafale costed us 8 billion euro ~10 billon dollar.
Almost 270 million dollar per F3 Rafale.
Now it's 2024, 8 years of inflation.
And Rafale has new F4 version.
Let's assume the price of F4 Rafale after improvements and inflation 290-320 million per jet
Thus price of 114 jets will cost at least 30-35 billion dollar.
May reach 40 billion due to cost escalation bcz of local production like Su40MKI
Also 300 Tejas mk2 production order would be divided between Hal and private company (Tata or Adani or Mahindra) 50:50. Delivery will complete within 8/9 years if both (Hal n private company) produce 20 jet per year which is very much possible.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

That is the point. Local production with significant ToT. That’s what MRFA is for. As for timeline, it will still come out well before what mk2 can potentially achieve. The tender for MMRCA (and even C295) had set first delivery (off the shelf) in 3 years, and first Made in India jet in 5 years. So it is all dependent on when we order.

Look at Ukraine Russia war bro. Xi is still more rational than Put!n. And even Put!n hasn’t dared to attack Sweden and all. Only weak countries like Ukraine (and earlier Georgia) got attacked. He is surrounded by yes men v cause they believe that he can hold it all together and they all can share the spoils of the loot. But when it becomes clear to other officers, politicians and businessmen that he will lead to total destruction, even he will be taken down.

To some extent,I agree with your logic but our notorious beaurocracy can hardly be expected to stick with timelines as they have no accountability. This could only happen if some tough taskmaster is made as defence minister. Present incumbent is incapable to do the job .

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

They should buy another 2 squadrons of rafale, close the mrfa saga.invest in airforce version of tedbf along with Amca. 4plus gen will be staying for another 40 years.

I used to type the same thing here 2 years ago, but have to say it, MRFA is only viable option to maintain some actual strength in IAF. All other projects of similar caliber are on paper.

 

[Akshat]

To some extent,I agree with your logic but our notorious beaurocracy can hardly be expected to stick with timelines as they have no accountability. This could only happen if some tough taskmaster is made as defence minister. Present incumbent is incapable to do the job .

On the contrary, the incumbent probably has the best record since at least 2000 (don’t know much about DMs before that so can’t comment on them). If you compare sheerly based on hard deliverables, his resume will stand out by miles.

 

[Akshat]

Order 300 Tejas mk2 and cancel phoren maal MRFA...
The delivery timeline will be same anyway
Plus price of 300 mk2<<<<104 rafale
300mk2 ORDER WILL BE DEVIDED 50:50 BETWEEN HAL AND PRIVATE COMAPNY

114 Rafale will cost around 30-35 billion
In 2016 F3 rafale costed us 8 billion euro ~10 billon dollar.
Almost 270 million dollar per F3 Rafale.
Now it's 2024, 8 years of inflation.
And Rafale has new F4 version.
Let's assume the price of F4 Rafale after improvements and inflation 290-320 million per jet
Thus price of 114 jets will cost at least 30-35 billion dollar.
May reach 40 billion due to cost escalation bcz of local production like Su40MKI
Also 300 Tejas mk2 production order would be divided between Hal and private company (Tata or Adani or Mahindra) 50:50. Delivery will complete within 8/9 years if both (Hal n private company) produce 20 jet per year which is very much possible.

How does 8 billion divided by 36 comes to 270 million usd? Wonder which company’s calculator are you using.

HAL hasn’t made 10 Tejas in any given year. After running the line for almost a decade. How do you propose they increase it to 20 annually? Not to mention, production can’t start before 2040 anyways.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

On the contrary, the incumbent probably has the best record since at least 2000 (don’t know much about DMs before that so can’t comment on them). If you compare sheerly based on hard deliverables, his resume will stand out by miles.

I am frustrated with him due to continued lingering on of vital defence projects like MRFA fighters ,AWACS and refuellers, P-75I submarines,P-75 Alfa SSNs ,MALE and HALE armed drones, subsonic & hypersonic cruise missiles. I can't give him more than 2 marks out of 10 . Even if you evaluate entire last 10 years, u will find very dismal performance of defence acquisitions . 6 scorpenes on order from last dispensation, 22+6 Apache ,15 Prachand , 36 Rafales ,16 LCA Tejas,4 P-8I and one aircraft carrier vikrant without Deck based fighters. For Bharat,as a whole,these acquisitions in 10 years are zero. Su-30 upgrade is on indefinite mode . Mirage upgrade was without AESA and long range BVRAAM .WE are still flying Mig-21 and Jaguars ,long ago retired by the source country.

 

[kumar]

42 squadrons ok.But 2 squadrons must be 5th gen Jets like F35.

 

[ASHOK CARROL]

42 squns are for China and Pakistan . The Defensive outlook and shortage of resources brought down the Squn strength to less than 30 . With a trillion $ of exports and a trillion of imports likely to double by 2030 to over two trillion each , from Continental force the IAF has to expand and reach for global operations with expansion of bases abroad , tankers , Awacs , Space based assets and ground attack aircraft including bombers . The IAF must target 42 squns by 2030 , 50 by 2036 , 60 by 2045 . After AMCA , the country needs to set course and design A heavy weight fighter like SU-57 and a turbofan engine with 100-120 kn dry thrust and almost 190 -200 kn afterburner thrust . Heavy investments are the need of the hour and an Aerospace commission headed by financially empowered professionals both scientists , engineers , Businessmen and officials of Defence psus , Private enterprises , academic institutions , IAF DRDOis the need of the hour to develop technology , within the country and become free by 2045 removing the babus of MOD , Finance from decision making and approvals which has been the bane of this country .

 

[Akshat]

I am frustrated with him due to continued lingering on of vital defence projects like MRFA fighters ,AWACS and refuellers, P-75I submarines,P-75 Alfa SSNs ,MALE and HALE armed drones, subsonic & hypersonic cruise missiles. I can't give him more than 2 marks out of 10 . Even if you evaluate entire last 10 years, u will find very dismal performance of defence acquisitions . 6 scorpenes on order from last dispensation, 22+6 Apache ,15 Prachand , 36 Rafales ,16 LCA Tejas,4 P-8I and one aircraft carrier vikrant without Deck based fighters. For Bharat,as a whole,these acquisitions in 10 years are zero. Su-30 upgrade is on indefinite mode . Mirage upgrade was without AESA and long range BVRAAM .WE are still flying Mig-21 and Jaguars ,long ago retired by the source country.

Mirage upgrade wasn’t during his tenure. And he can’t change things overnight buddy.

Fact is, under his tenure we have started utilizing the entire defense budget for the first time. We even overspent for a couple of years. So he simply has no money to do more than what he has done. This is unlike our past DMs including even Manohar ji.

Also, you can’t blame him for the performance of DPSUs. He can’t change it all in 5 years. But he has already corporatized OFB, increased orders to private companies and made it a rule to give a share of DRDO budget to them. That’s more than what anyone else has done in the past.

You always need comparisons bro. Tell me one DM who has done more than him. You can never compare in absolute terms alone.

 

[Puneet]

Rafale for MRFA can fill the void

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Infact till the time unmanned warfare is perfected, IAF should look for more squadrons than 42. However given the present scenario for next 15 years even achieving 42 would be difficult.

 

[Pink Panther]

They should buy another 2 squadrons of rafale, close the mrfa saga.invest in airforce version of tedbf along with Amca. 4plus gen will be staying for another 40 years.

But we have to wait for 10-15 years before we can get the 2 squadron’s due to the heavy backlog Dassault has currently, so it is really not worth waiting that long, it’s better we focus on local jets MK2 and AMCA, we can definitely make them before we get our first Rafale’s, it would be better to go for a few 5th gen foreign fighters instead of Rafale, 62 Rafale’s that we have are plenty.