Why 5th-Gen Jets are the Strategic Choice for India, Not MRFA

India's aerial defence is at a critical turning point. The IAF's Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender presents a solution: readily available, capable 4.5-generation jets.

While tempting, India must look beyond this short-term fix and set its sights on acquiring the game-changing technology of 5th-generation fighters.

Understanding the 5th-Gen Advantage​

Fifth-generation fighter jets are the cutting edge of aerial warfare. Their stealth design makes them difficult to detect on radar, allowing them to penetrate enemy airspace undetected.

Advanced avionics and sensor fusion give pilots unprecedented situational awareness, providing a real-time, 360-degree view of the battlefield. These features translate into a decisive edge in modern combat, enabling them to gather intelligence, neutralize threats, and overpower adversaries with superior firepower and maneuverability.

While capable in their own right, 4.5-gen jets cannot compete with this level of sophistication.

The Rapidly Evolving Geopolitical Landscape​

The world of aerial warfare is in constant flux. Opting for 4.5-gen jets risks technological obsolescence by the time they are fully integrated. In contrast, 5th-gen platforms represent a long-term investment, ensuring the IAF remains a dominant force for decades. Investing now means staying ahead of the curve.

5th-Gen as a Catalyst for India's Indigenous Fighter Program​

Acquiring 5th-gen fighters not only boosts India's defence capabilities but can also accelerate the development of the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Collaboration with foreign manufacturers during the acquisition process offers an invaluable opportunity to gain crucial technological know-how. This knowledge transfer can supercharge India's ability to produce its cutting-edge fighter jets, fostering self-reliance in the long run.

Keeping Pace with Regional Powers​

A strategic imperative for India is the fact that regional powers like China already deploy 5th-gen fighter jets. To maintain air superiority and deter potential aggression, India needs to match or exceed these capabilities.

A fleet of 4.5-gen jets would leave India at a disadvantage in a high-tech conflict, especially alongside the IAF's upcoming induction of capable 4.5-gen jets like the Tejas Mk II and Mk 1A.

Managing the Costs of Progress​

Undoubtedly, 5th-gen jets come with a higher upfront cost and more complex maintenance needs. However, these must be weighed against the potential consequences of falling behind in aerial technology.

Strategic partnerships with leading aerospace companies can help manage these costs and ensure a smooth and sustainable acquisition process.

The Choice for India's Future​

The MRFA program offers a quick solution, but a short-term one. By acquiring 5th-gen fighters, India makes a strategic choice to secure its skies for the long haul, deter aggression, and boost its journey to self-reliance in fighter jet production.

While the path might be slightly more complex, the rewards are far greater. The time for India to invest in true air dominance is now!

 

[Akshat]

Our forces are so much impressed with Rafales that they would prefer delaying AMCA for the sake of Rafales.

Forget AMCA. Where is the mk2 for which payments have been made and roll out was promised in 2022?

 

[Anant]

I have no doubt that India and the US can find a solution to the S400 issue. My guess is sooner, or later India will acquire some F-35s. As she has very few options. The AMCA won't arrive before 2040 and that is assuming they have no delays, and they always have delays.

It's not impossible, but F-35s for India are highly unlikely unless something major changes. Some form of localisation arrangement may be necessary, but it's difficult to say. For instance, Greece has been under NATO commitments to keep their sole S-300 battery (which they acquired courtesy of Cyprus) on Crete only rather than the Greek mainland.

That said, the main sticking issues with any sale of the F-35 to India will be that the US will allow for practically no modifications, which might become a headache for India later on.

The only way I see this changing is if an American jet were to win MRFA (highly unlikely but not impossible) under the agreement that, say, 2 squadrons of those would be F-35s instead.

 

[shivkumar sinha]

Forget technology transfer for 5th generation fighters , the only real stealth fighters available with US are off the table for Bharat. Russian stealth fighter is a farce . What is option for Bharat to get stealth fighters except to develop indigenously ? This is correct approach to develop 4.5 generation Tejas Mark-2 and proceed towards AMCA. Even if we get engines or other components at reduced performance in comparison to F-35 ,it will be ok against our adversaries in the region.

 

[Pad UwU]

LMAO we been waiting AMCA for a decade and still needs more 1 decade for a total of 2 decades 😹😹😹

My cats beard and tail fur's is becoming gray waiting for our overspec overhype AMCA to fly against enemy of India 🙃

 

[Pad UwU]

Right MRFA should allow Entry of 5th Gen Stealth Fighters along with 4.5 Gen Thats what i was saying US can offer F-35 Instead of F-15 Ex while Russia may offer Su-57 . Instead of Su-35 Let the competition become hot .

F35 is just a fantasy for us LMAO 😹😹😹

 

[Sandeep]

LMAO we been waiting AMCA for a decade and still needs more 1 decade for a total of 2 decades 😹😹😹

My cats beard and tail fur's is becoming gray waiting for our overspec overhype AMCA to fly against enemy of India 🙃

The project only started around 8 years ago when we cancelled the joint deal with Russia. In the next few years we should develop a few prototype and to test the technology.

 

[Anant]

You must be kidding? As 5th Generation Fighters are more than a leap ahead of older 4th Generation Types. As a matter of fact, during air exercises they aren't beating them. They're totally "crushing" them....

You are mistaken. Fifth generation fighters certainly have their advantages, but, at the end of the day, are still an evolution over fourth generation aircraft.

Simply put, fifth generation aircraft, like any weapons system, have their own set or compromises. They generally cannot carry the same level of payload in 'clean' configuration. They are considerably more expensive.

The exercises you refer to, for the most part, pit fifth generation fighters against older aircraft for aerial superiority battles. In that, the fifth generation fighters have an advantage. However, look at a mass aerial strike, and the fifth generation fighters tend to play the role of escorts and control aircraft for munitions released by fourth generation aircraft from stand-off ranges.

You aren't going to see any large air force transition exclusively to fifth generation aircraft anytime soon. The US is still procuring F-15s, Russia still buys Su-35s (though the Su-57 can be argued to not be a fifth generation jet), China still manufactures J-10s, etc.

Oh, and when it comes to stealth, you only get that in small numbers. If your enemy sends 100 fifth generation fighters in a raid on one of your bases, for instance, even if your radar manages to pick up 100 small dots moving quite rapidly, the cat is out of the bag.

 

[Sandeep]

India won't proceed with any MRFA deal as its very expensive, won't receive any critical technology or allow us to manufacture those systems, parts, components and sensors etc. It's best that we scrap this deal as soon as Tejas MK2 flies and its technology is advanced, reliable, consistent and we can use a variety of Indian, Israeli, Russian or USA weapons. This is why it's best to scrap the tender and fixate on developing more Tejas MK2 and AMCA jets as those will be for future technology and current threats

 

[Anant]

The project only started around 8 years ago when we cancelled the joint deal with Russia. In the next few years we should develop a few prototype and to test the technology.

Nope. AMCA started off as a parallel program to FGFA back in 2010. By the time FGFA was cancelled in 2016, the basic design had already been finalised.

 

[Anant]

Instead of MRFA invest on defence like iron dome of Israel for all borders of india and to every city in India and become equal with china economically by 2035 and then with AMCA 1 AMCA 2

"Become equal with China economically by 2035": Are you joking, or are you unaware of the numbers?

 

[Anant]

5th generation fighter jets not required immediately for India as pakistan doesn't have s400 .India cannot afford war with economically stronger china untill 2030 .so buy Rafael 4 or Mig31/35/eurofighter typhoon or f15E:36 fighter jets atleast to tackle pakistan and to support Taiwan

We can't afford a war with China even after 2030. They will still dwarf us economically for the next 20-25 years at the least, and that is when we will start pulling close (not overtaking them, mind you).

 

[beencensured]

You are mistaken. Fifth generation fighters certainly have their advantages, but, at the end of the day, are still an evolution over fourth generation aircraft.

Simply put, fifth generation aircraft, like any weapons system, have their own set or compromises. They generally cannot carry the same level of payload in 'clean' configuration. They are considerably more expensive.

The exercises you refer to, for the most part, pit fifth generation fighters against older aircraft for aerial superiority battles. In that, the fifth generation fighters have an advantage. However, look at a mass aerial strike, and the fifth generation fighters tend to play the role of escorts and control aircraft for munitions released by fourth generation aircraft from stand-off ranges.

You aren't going to see any large air force transition exclusively to fifth generation aircraft anytime soon. The US is still procuring F-15s, Russia still buys Su-35s (though the Su-57 can be argued to not be a fifth generation jet), China still manufactures J-10s, etc.

Oh, and when it comes to stealth, you only get that in small numbers. If your enemy sends 100 fifth generation fighters in a raid on one of your bases, for instance, even if your radar manages to pick up 100 small dots moving quite rapidly, the cat is out of the bag.

Chinese fifth generational are not costly, they have the numbers for the lower availability rate. When fifth generational become near the same cost to operate as fourth generational then forth will be replaced by fifth and that is only the numbers game.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Forget AMCA. Where is the mk2 for which payments have been made and roll out was promised in 2022?

Payments made?.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

No one is delaying AMCA, Sir. However, once you consider the developmental and subsequent production timelines, one conclusion is evident: MRFA is needed to boost numbers. Without it, the IAF may well not reach 35 squadrons, let alone 42, until 2040 or so, unless we pull another MiG-21 saga or two with the Jaguar / Mirage 2000 / MiG-29.

Expedite MK2 and AMCA. Produce 24- 30 MK 1A per year. From ~ 2030s produce 20 MK1A's + 24 MK2s a year. To shore up numbers in the short term buy 36-48 Rafael's.

 

[Akshat]

Payments made?.

HAL claims that it will take 36 months after the money is released. HAL chairman said he will deliver it in 19 months, ending in August 2022. This means all the payments were made way back in 2019 or even earlier. HAL’s own words, not mine. No interpretation either from my side.

 

[Pink Panther]

The author is making it as if Fifth generation aircraft are some revolutionary leap of technology above over the Fourth generation aircrafts.

When the fact is, 5th gen aircrafts are an evolutionary upgrade over 4th gen aircrafts.

We are not at a stage where we would compete with China in sheer numbers of aircraft in PLAAF inventory. Irrespective of generation. China is an industrial powerhouse and we are currently nowhere near their scale.

Rather, we should focus on building an aeronautical ecosystem instead which will help us pick the shovel when time is ripe. As our won industry will pick up pace, we will be able to have the PLAAF beat in both quantity and quality of our hardware.

This is why Rusians made a combo of both 4th and 5th gen features in SU-57, because they understood this very well, a pure 100% 5th gen aircraft can’t do what a pure 100% 4th gen aircraft can do and vice-versa.

 

[Pink Panther]

MOD had asked Imported AirForce to give their requirements for ORCA, Imported AirForce is not interested, because roti-daal is not something they like, they like readymade burgers for dinner. And then suffer stomach upset during war as the OEM stops supply of spare parts.

Absolutely, this is a big problem and a ticking time bomb for IAF.

 

[Pink Panther]

India needs a lot of things. The question is do we have funds and more importantly can it be developed or acquired within the specific time frame as needed by our Indian military.

As long as we don’t waste money on purchasing only 36 jets for $10Bln and another only 24 jets for a whopping $7Bln, we will have plenty of fund, we could have bought 200 jets for that money instead.

 

[Pink Panther]

Right MRFA should allow Entry of 5th Gen Stealth Fighters along with 4.5 Gen Thats what i was saying US can offer F-35 Instead of F-15 Ex while Russia may offer Su-57 . Instead of Su-35 Let the competition become hot .

No US won’t offer F35.

 

[Pink Panther]

I have no doubt that India and the US can find a solution to the S400 issue. My guess is sooner, or later India will acquire some F-35s. As she has very few options. The AMCA won't arrive before 2040 and that is assuming they have no delays, and they always have delays.

The solution would be donating them to Ukraine, US wants Turkey to donate their S-400 to Ukraine in order to get F-35.