Why India Ditched FGFA 5th-Gen Fighter Jet Program with Russia? $25B Price, Limited Control and Stealth Shortcomings Were Major Factors

India's decision to withdraw from the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program with Russia was a significant turning point in its pursuit of advanced fighter capabilities.

While concerns about the aircraft's technical limitations, particularly its stealth capabilities, were widely reported, the program's exorbitant cost appears to have been the decisive factor in India's withdrawal.

Initially, the FGFA program, based on Russia's PAK-FA or Sukhoi T-50 platform, was envisioned as a collaborative venture with a 50:50 design and work-share agreement. This promised India a significant role in developing a cutting-edge stealth fighter.

However, as the program progressed, India's participation became increasingly limited, with Russia retaining control over most of the design and development work.

Reports indicated that India would have needed to invest an estimated $25 billion to see the FGFA project through to completion and induct 127 fighters into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

This staggering cost included expenses for development, production, and operational deployment. The high price tag raised serious concerns about the program's affordability, especially when weighed against other pressing needs in India's defence budget.

Furthermore, India would have had to compromise on its initial 50:50 design and work-share arrangement, effectively reducing its role to that of a buyer rather than a co-developer. This diminished role significantly undercut the strategic and technological benefits India had hoped to gain from the partnership.

While financial concerns were central, technical issues with the FGFA also influenced India's decision. The aircraft faced criticism for its:

• Pseudo-stealth capabilities: The PAK-FA platform lacked true stealth features comparable to other fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 or F-22.
• Underwhelming performance: Concerns arose regarding engine reliability, radar cross-section (RCS), and sensor fusion, raising doubts about the FGFA's overall combat effectiveness.

These shortcomings suggested that the FGFA might not fully meet the IAF's operational requirements, making the substantial financial investment even harder to justify.

India's withdrawal from the FGFA program marked a shift in its approach to acquiring fifth-generation fighter capabilities. Instead of relying on foreign platforms, India has prioritized developing its own Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). This program aims to deliver a true fifth-generation fighter tailored to the IAF's specific needs and built with significant indigenous content.

By focusing on the AMCA, India aims to develop critical technologies domestically, reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers, and align its defence industry with the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) vision. This strategic shift reflects India's growing ambition to become a major player in the global aerospace and defence market.

 

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[SR]

And when was the last time we purchased anything from NATO in those kind of numbers? If you want to compare, have a fair comparison.

I told you clearly, NATO will enslave us and colonize us. Just see the conditions of other countries who bought US weapons. At least see how the US is delaying GE 404 engines. For the US, currency is not just money; it includes free access to resources, administration, foreign policy, and literally everything in that country. Comparing anything with evil NATO itself is not a fair comparison.

If we had bought US weapons instead of Russian weapons since the 1960s, today, along with Bangladeshis, you would be seeing Africans, Syrians, and Gazans also getting homes under government schemes and claiming themselves as Indians.

 

[R. Singh]

Russia asked for 50:50 funding ,India agreed but at the time of design Russia offered only < 15% tech ! That was the reason India quit, as per info in public domain ! OUR PMF fighter jet development derailed now we should ink deal with Lockheed Martin+ Boeing to help India to make PMF !

 

[PKPRS]

If Dassault can somehow make it in India then we need to go ahead with it. Else we are stuck

Dassault won't make it in India unless we order 100+. If we order 100+, we will expect TOT that Rafale won't give. We have seen this Tom & Jerry story before. So if we are buying more Rafales, it might be another order for 36 more and something else for the remaining. In my opinion, this has been my stand all along. Purchasing 36 more Rafales depends on immediate availability; otherwise, we are pretty much done with Rafale. Our enemies can't wait until we get Rafales; French fans should know this.

 

[PKPRS]

Do not underestimate the Su-57. It is a 5th-generation stealth fighter that has been used in the Ukraine war. It has improvements from the initial design and inputs from the war. It will have a 2D thrust vector nozzle and an advanced helmet-mounted sighting system. It is equivalent to the F-22. India can purchase it or go for licensed make in India. We can also become a partner in the joint development of the single-engined version Su-75, equivalent to the F-35.

I won’t compare SU-57 against F-22, both have their strength snd weaknesses and are made for entirely different operational doctrine and operate in completely different environment with different level of protection, SU-57 is way too better than J-20-J-35 combined any day.

 

[Senapati]

Why blem Russia. Has not France increased cost of Rafal fighter.
Have not Americans stopped GE ingine for Tejas Mk1 and increased price of GE F414 for Tejas Mk2.
America or Western NATO countries can not be trusted at critical times.
In defence not just technology not just good look but a reliable platform and a reliable partner country matters most.