Mega fighter jet competition could kickstart after key panel suggestion

New Delhi: A mega competition to produce medium, multirole fighter jets in India could kick off with an empowered committee set up by the defence ministry recommending that the aircraft are vital for capability enhancement of the air force.

Sources said that the committee has accepted IAF’s requirement of the medium fighter jets to keep up squadron levels, which have been steadily dipping due to retirement of Soviet legacy aircraft and a lack of replacements.

The air force has recommended that 114 multirole fighter aircraft (MRFA) are needed, along with indigenous products like the light combat aircraft and the future advanced multirole combat aircraft (AMCA) to maintain a combat edge. As reported, IAF’s combat squadron levels have dipped to their lowest since the 1965 war, with a further reduction expected this year as old aircraft like the MiG 21 are finally retired.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has also recently stated that these medium jets should be produced under the C 295 model-referring to the production of military transport aircraft by an Airbus-Tata combine in India.

If a similar approach is followed, a foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM), like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Dassault or Saab would tie up with a local partner and offer the jets to be produced in India.

The IAF requirement is set to spark off a major competition, given the large requirement that will be valued at tens of billions of dollars. As things stand, major contenders from the US include Boeing with the F/A 18 Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin with the F 21. While Boeing had an understanding with Mahindra, Lockheed had homed in on Tata for the offering.It is unlikely that the fifth generation F 35-also produced by Lockheed-can be a contender, given that India is clear that the jets have to be made in India with a local partner and significant transfer of technology.From Europe, the competitors will be Dassault with the in service Rafale fighter jets and Saab with the Gripen. Dassault has already sent in a suo motto proposal that it will set up an Indian subsidiary to produce the jets for the air force as well as the export market if it secures the order for 114 fighters. Saab had a partnership with Adani Defence in the past but that has since lapsed.

While Russia has been keen on offering its new-age fighter jets as well, they are unlikely to meet the stringent requirements of the air force that include cutting edge electronics to take on the China threat.