Lockheed Martin, the American aerospace giant, is unlikely to offer its fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jet for India's upcoming Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, according to company officials.
The tender, seeking 114 new fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), is expected to be a highly competitive procurement process.
The primary reasons for excluding the F-35 from consideration are the relatively small order size and stringent US government restrictions on technology transfer. Setting up a dedicated F-35 production line in India, as would be required under India's "Make in India" initiative, would necessitate a substantial investment.
The F-35 program is one of the most expensive defense projects globally, and its cost-effectiveness relies on large-scale production. An order of 114 aircraft is considered insufficient to justify the extensive infrastructure, supply chain development, training, and maintenance ecosystem required for a new production facility.
Furthermore, the US government maintains tight control over the F-35's advanced technologies. These include its stealth capabilities, sophisticated AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and its complex, software-driven avionics.
India's "Make in India" policy prioritizes significant technology transfer to boost domestic defense manufacturing capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. The level of technology transfer that the US would likely permit for the F-35 is believed to be insufficient to meet India's requirements.
Instead of the F-35, Lockheed Martin is expected to propose the F-21, a significantly upgraded variant of the F-16 Block 70/72, specifically designed for the Indian Air Force.
The F-21 was first presented in 2019. Although the F-16 platform was previously unsuccessful in the earlier Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition, Lockheed Martin maintains that the F-21 incorporates substantial improvements.
Key upgrades on the F-21 include an APG-83 AESA radar (based on F-35 radar technology), conformal fuel tanks to increase flight range, the ability to carry more missiles, and a modern cockpit with a large display. Lockheed Martin asserts that the F-21 provides capabilities similar to those of the F-35, but at a lower cost.
Lockheed Martin is highlighting its commitment to Indian manufacturing by proposing to build the F-21 in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). This partnership mirrors previous offers to establish an F-16 production line in India. Lockheed Martin emphasizes the potential for job creation and the development of a regional hub for F-16/F-21 maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, leveraging the large global fleet of F-16s.
However, the F-21 faces considerable challenges in the MRFA competition. The F-16, upon which the F-21 is based, did not meet the technical requirements in the previous MMRCA competition, which ultimately led to India's purchase of 36 French Rafale fighter jets. The Indian Air Force chose Rafale in 2012.
A key concern for the IAF is likely to be the F-21's fourth-generation airframe. While it boasts upgrades, it lacks the inherent stealth and sensor fusion capabilities that define fifth-generation fighters.
With potential competition from advanced 4.5-generation fighters like the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen E, and possibly Russia's Su-35, the F-21 may need to offer significant advantages in pricing, industrial partnerships, and operational performance to secure the contract.
The IAF has increasingly emphasized the need for cutting-edge technology to counter evolving regional threats, particularly China's growing deployment of advanced aircraft like the J-20 stealth fighter. China possesses over 200 J-20s as its frontline fighters.
