The Lockheed Martin F-21: A Close Examination of Capabilities and Claims

Lockheed Martin's F-21 fighter jet has emerged as a strong contender in India's competition to acquire 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA). Aggressively marketed as a cutting-edge, near-5th-generation platform, the F-21 is positioned as a transformative addition for the Indian Air Force (IAF). However, closer inspection reveals a more nuanced assessment is required to separate marketing claims from real-world capabilities.

Key Selling Points and Their Scrutiny​

The F-21 is promoted as a significant upgrade over the F-16 Block 52, incorporating features and technologies from the F-22 and F-35. Lockheed Martin highlights the jet's advanced APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, claiming exceptional detection ranges and targeting ability. Yet, it remains unclear if India would be provided with the radar's source code, which is critical for integration with Indian weapon systems.

Additionally, the inclusion of Triple Missile Launcher Adapters (TMLAs) boosts the number of air-to-air weapons the F-21 can carry. While this may provide a tactical edge, many analysts question the cost this additional drag may have on the aircraft's overall combat effectiveness.

Legacy Systems, Future Aspirations​

Despite Lockheed Martin's claims, critics emphasize the F-21's reliance on a 50-year-old airframe and engine design. These core elements are unlikely to match the performance demanded by next-generation combat scenarios.

Moreover, concerns persist about the alignment of the F-21 with India's goals of indigenous defense manufacturing. Despite 'Make in India' provisions included in the MRFA proposal, the extent of technology transfer and long-term benefits to India's defense industries remain uncertain.

Comparison with 5th Generation Fighters​

Lockheed Martin's presentation of the F-21 as a near-5th-generation fighter invites comparisons with the F-22 and F-35. While there are common elements in supply chains, the key advantages of true stealth capabilities and supercruise offered by the F-22 are absent from the F-21.

Furthermore, direct access to the F-35 seems unlikely, making the promise of interoperability between the platforms a distant possibility.

Conclusion​

The Lockheed Martin F-21 offers some potential advantages for the IAF's modernization program. However, it is essential that India conduct a thorough evaluation of the aircraft's capabilities – both advertised and implied – to ensure it aligns fully with the nation's strategic defense requirements.

A clear-eyed assessment of the F-21's strengths, limitations, and long-term implications is crucial before finalizing such a significant acquisition.

 

[SuryaK]

Better get the boramae, Amca will take time.

 

[Anant]

Yes should not put the eggs in expensive French basket as well as both are same basket, putting the eggs on Indian basket MK2 is the only way going forward if it is 4th gen jet, if GE engine is offered for license manufacturing. French product would cost at-least 4 times the price of F21.

Either provide evidence for that claim of the Rafale costing four times as much as the F-21, or just don't make it. Please do not spread misinformation.

The Rafale is most definitely more expensive than the F-21 / F-16, but not by nearly as much as you are portraying.

 

[Anant]

US is desparate to sell its one Fighter jets out of 3 (F-15 eX ,f-18 & f-21).but knowing there is ample of Time for MRFA & evaluation . LM would have made atleast 2 prototype based on F-21 Features . they want to sell dreams. India want to integrate Astra series ,Rudram, Nirbhay & Brahmos-NG on all Future Fighter jets which will b inducted in future.Brahmos-NG being Indo-Russian will LM allow on F-21 (I dont think it will win MRFA). Mark my word US will return with Empty hand in MRFA . Its old design. India wants contemporary .

The F-18 is out of the contention by virtue of being at the end of its production run.

 

[Anant]

even yesterday there was an article about SU-35, any foreign MRFA jet will kill Tejas, AMCA., erc.

It won't. Do you really think the IAF can reach optimal strength with just 114 jets? We are not a random European nation to have that force requirement. MRFA is a requirement to ensure we can reach 40+ squadrons at a reasonable point of time as opposed to waiting till well into the 2040s.

 

[Anant]

Better get the boramae, Amca will take time.

You do realise the international arms market is not your average supermarket where you can just go and pick out and buy whatever you like, right? For the KF-21 to be purchased, it has to be offered as part of the tender, or else we would have to go for a G2G deal.

 

[Sandeep]

India shouldn’t get this jet at all or any other foreign jet. India should focus on developing and producing its own indigenous Tejas MK1A and MK2 along with the AMCA.

If we did go for a foreign jet then it will cost over $25 billion and make it even harder to produce more of our indigenous jets. At the same time we won’t get any critical technology transfer that we would want like the radar, jets computer access, EW, IRST, etc which is the main technology that we want rather than just making parts and components that we could of made ourselves if we needed to. The air force also has a large number of purchases it needs to make like 200 Tejas MK1A, 200 Tejas MK2, 200+ AMCA, 150 Prachand, 100 basic trainer, 100 intermediate trainer, 200 LUH, 200 IMRH, 100 Dhruv, 3-5 MR-SAM squadrons, 5 squadrons of Akash SAM, 200 drones, 100+ swarm drones and so much more. We would have to cut down a lot of our indigenous purchases which is why we should scrap the MRFA program completely.

 

[nakul1307]

Haven't they already said they don't want single engines?? Why this whole article?

 

[Ranjeet Singh]

IAF think tank should keep in mind to select the fighter under MRFA that can perform over thin air of Tibet air space as well as in Indian sub continent conditions ! Whether it be F-21+ F-36 (both 80+80) or 114 F-15 EX-II or F-35A

 

[SK]

Indian-Govt must consider to cancel the MRFA RFI & instead encourage both IAF & IN to invest in:-

1. TEDBF (ORCA)
2. AMCA

This will boost Logistical synergy & Economy of Scales for Indian-Military & Aerospace industry.

 

[neil]

Just wondering what happened to F-35 for us; America is our bosom buddy & will not give us F-35, both variants, one for landing on strip & the other on an AC; F-21 is OK, just a shiny polished F-16, but its not a 4th gen fighter even by a stretch.

Maybe F35 is off the table after we got S400 from the Russkies, same as for Turkey. Uncle Sam is very sensitive about having those 2 systems coexist in proximity as it would supposedly unravel secrets of F35.

 

[Dredd]

The way Americans are.. they will not give us F-35s.. They just refused F-35s to UAE & Saudi. They will do a large parade of other shiny stuff for us to get dazzled. Yes, they want our money, but on their terms.

let trump come, F-35 will definitely come on the table, F-35 was offerred to UAE when trump was in power,

 

[Siddharth Asthana]

The only thing American that IAF would even consider procuring will be F-35....rest all options in the tender are spectators to gather crowd for the winner selection...which in all probability will be French, albeit in smaller numbers.

 

[Varaaah]

The only thing American that IAF would even consider procuring will be F-35....rest all options in the tender are spectators to gather crowd for the winner selection...which in all probability will be French, albeit in smaller numbers.

F-35 still faces too many problems. Then this is not good, that is not good. It $u¢k$.

 

[Varaaah]

India should have bought the F21 a decade ago. Now it has no future. Besides, we have Tejas, which are really good and are going to become better and better. If only HAL use it to make it its Success case.