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!

 

[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.

 

[Pad UwU]

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.

How can I believe your claims when wiki says AMCA started 2010 kakakakak 😹😹😹
And was said it was a parallel program from HAL FGFA Indo Russian 🤔🧐
Or are you same as our buddy Akshat confusing us more kakakakak 😹😹😹

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Even USAF plans to keep it's F-16's flying into the 2040's so cut this bs already.

 

[Anant]

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.

Sir, we can't just say "Build X number of aircraft" to build them. HAL has literally hundreds of upstream suppliers.

For HAL to manufacture 24 or 30 or 36 or 100 or whatever number of aircraft a year, they have to ensure that all of these suppliers are able to deliver the requisite number of components on time, which is a gargantuan task unless the entire supply chain is well established (which isn't the case for us).

HAL can claim to have infrastructure for 24 or 32 aircraft a year for all they care, but since the supply chain can only scale up gradually, that means they will struggle to reach those figures for a long time.

That doesn't even take into account outright bottlenecks such as the production of F404 engines. GE can only supply 10 or so a year to India for a while, and so you are not going to suddenly get 24 aircraft a year.

 

[Joe_Bama]

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

Iron Dome works well with militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, but in a full-fledged war, it would be expensive to intercept and likely be taken out.

 

[Joe_Bama]

There's no choice with MRFA. With dwindling squadron numbers and a dismal rate of producing fighters, MRFA is more needed than ever before. All we have so far is on paper, heck HAL still hasn't even delivered the 1st MK1A so what do you suggest then?

 

[kumar]

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.

Yes, ur right. Program gained momentum only after IAF exited FGFA.

 

[RG]

When the metal cutting has started, India would do well to use the money to build production capability for fighters for different type of fighters

 

[Ayyadurai Namasivayam]

5th gen fighters are hype only. India rafale can outperform any 5th gen fighters. We do not need any 5th gen fighters. .indian fighter technologies are at 6th gen standards.

 

[Pink Panther]

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....

not really, that’s why US uses a combination of 4th and 5th, Russians combined both 4th and 5th gen features in SU-57.

 

[Pink Panther]

Honestly, time has run out. A solution needs to be found and with great haste....

The best solution would be to not waste money on expensive foreign 4th gen platforms like Rafale.

 

[AK S]

No such requirements were ever solicited bro. I can bet that there has been no such official statement, right buddy? Not to mention, MRFA is an existential requirement. Tedbf’s schedule, let alone ORCA, simply won’t work. And forget ORCA etc. They have given Mk2’s requirements. HAL even said it will be rolled out by 2022. Almost as much time as Tejas but whatever. Where is it buddy?

Buying 114 Rafale is an existential problem … interesting.IAF would do just fine without it. If it was an existential one, IAF won’t sit on it for two decades. Current regime is 10 years old and soon it would be fifteen and I don’t see the first MRFA fighter in that timeframe too.

Let’s see when MK2 flies and what’s confidence level of IAF in it. That would decide the fate of MRFA. We’d do just fine. Worst case, we can replace most of IAF inventories (Jaguar, MiG 29 or even Mirage) with MK1A.

If you meant Dassault even that’s no longer true. Dassault would do okay too. It was an existential problem for Dassault once.

 

[Pink Panther]

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.

LMAO, there is no such universal standard for 5th gen aircraft, every Country designs their 5th gen Aircraft based on their operational doctrine.

 

[Pink Panther]

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 🙃

Let’s fly our 4th gen Tejas MK1A first.

 

[AK S]

Looks like the author smoked really powerful stuff ! Does not even realize a simple truth that MRFA is for real, planes which fly rather the 5th gen AMCA which is no more than a pipe dream and can take anywhere from 3-5 decades to come to fruction !!

Interesting… 3-5 decade for AMCA and hence buy foreign maal. Thoda to rational argument do.

 

[AK S]

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.

2040 for AMCA is aggressive timeline and without considering delays! Do you know the official timeline? At least speak factually. You have added 7 years of delay … nearly doubled the timeline.

 

[AK S]

A few points to consider:

1. 5th generation fighters are not some wonder weapon that are revolutionary improvements over 4.5th generation aircraft. They are merely an evolutionary development.

2. When going for stealth, 5th generation fighters bring their own set of compromises. They have lower payload generally, and one of the ways they are currently planned to be used in wars is to be used for air superiority and as guiding beacons for munitions launched from stand-off ranges by 4th and 4.5th generation aircraft. 5th generation fighters are not planned to be used in massive numbers for attacks, since a very large number of small RCS signatures still spoils the surprise.

3. The necessity of MRFA is not qualitative or technological. It is quantitative. The IAF is staring at a massive block obsolescence problem in the 2030s, and we are already 12-14 squadrons (depending on if you count the ancient MiG-21) short. 6 squadrons under MRFA may not sound like much on the face of it, but having 6 modern fighter squadrons would allow for local production to keep up to the point where we can maintain a good force strength instead of having to end up keeping the Mirage 2000 and/or Jaguar and/or MiG-29 flying on past their retirement age.

4. We do not have the capabilities for mass production in the numbers that would be needed to fill in the numbers needed. Regardless of whatever lofty promises HAL keeps making every now and then, they haven't delivered yet. As their promises get ever loftier, delivery will fall even more behind. The best case scenario for now is that the 83 Tejas Mk 1A order would be completed by 2030 or so, with the 97 aircraft order taking until 2038-39, since you would then have lines migrating over to the Tejas Mk 2 and AMCA.

5. Coming to indigenous projects, these are all running behind schedule. The Tejas Mk 2 was supposed to fly in 2022, but even if we forget that for a minute, HAL claims the aircraft will fly in late 2025 and enter service in 2029. Keeping that absurdity aside, the first flight would (more realistically) be in 2026-27, with an entry into service being 2032-34 at the earliest. AMCA is even further ahead, and 2040 is a realistic-ish timeline.

We need to be less believing of the bluster that HAL puts out every now and then and actually look at cold, hard numbers. MRFA will not be cheap, and anyone who says so is an idiot. Yes, we can get a larger number of aircraft for the same price if we go for indigenous aircraft (how many is another matter, but definitely more than 114). However, should we agree to the IAF ending up with a critical capability gap for the better part of 15-20 years for this? I think not.

MRFA is hardly a quantitative one. $25-30B for some 114 4.5 gen fighter … we aren’t as rich and numbers can’t be filled with this. Even best case, first fighter may not be available in 5 years from now.

One can only afford them in limited quantity for strategic and deterrence roles against Pakistan. It won’t deter China.

Numbers will come from MK1A and MK2. We are getting closer to 13-16 Mk1A per year. With the order of 97more, it would touch nearly 24 with the repurposed existing infra. This capacity will be available to Mk2 as welll. This is the path for quantity and not some foreign fighters.

 

[AK S]

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

Full payment was held up uptill couple of months back! Last time he had bank statement of ADA and they had Rs. 3500 Cr unused in their account. Some propaganda … mind blowing!

MK2 will fly before MRFA RFP. Let’s wait till 2026. Most of the IAF existing inventories (Jaguar, MiG 29 or even Mirage) can be effectively replaced by MK1A itself. Mk2 is more likely to eat the MRFA order size and hence all this desperate propaganda.

 

[Shiva]

Correct.
This is because accepting 4.5 means, there is a scope of Russian Involvement and no scope for Western mafia.
But if it is 5th Gen, then western mafia can do its business.
he he.

 

[Akshat]

Full payment was held up uptill couple of months back! Last time he had bank statement of ADA and they had Rs. 3500 Cr unused in their account. Some propaganda … mind blowing!

MK2 will fly before MRFA RFP. Let’s wait till 2026. Most of the IAF existing inventories (Jaguar, MiG 29 or even Mirage) can be effectively replaced by MK1A itself. Mk2 is more likely to eat the MRFA order size and hence all this desperate propaganda.

Then can you please explain the statement of HAL chief?

As for mk2, Tejas took some 16 years before FOC. So even first flight is not gonna do anything. Not to mention, HAL can’t make enough jets in the first place even after all trials are cleared.

 

[Akshat]

Buying 114 Rafale is an existential problem … interesting.IAF would do just fine without it. If it was an existential one, IAF won’t sit on it for two decades. Current regime is 10 years old and soon it would be fifteen and I don’t see the first MRFA fighter in that timeframe too.

Let’s see when MK2 flies and what’s confidence level of IAF in it. That would decide the fate of MRFA. We’d do just fine. Worst case, we can replace most of IAF inventories (Jaguar, MiG 29 or even Mirage) with MK1A.

If you meant Dassault even that’s no longer true. Dassault would do okay too. It was an existential problem for Dassault once.

If they could have done without it they wouldn’t have kept the program running. Only mistake was that MoD trusted HAL to first run the negotiations (MMRCA) and then trusted them on mk2. No more. AoN is expected this year.

And as I said before, first flight of Mk2 has nothing to do with MRFa. Firstly, IAF chief himself has said that we need MRFA even after Mk2. Secondly, mk2 won’t be inducted till at least 2040 even if first flight happens tomorrow as per the record of HAL.

But MRFA is surely an existential threat to HAL. Everyone knows that once a private company makes MRFA, HAL’s monopoly is gone and it will be history. That’s why all this propaganda.

 

[Rajesh]

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.

Orca program means no more rafale watches .