It is a windfall of protection acquisition proposals for the Indian Armed Forces because the nation’s Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) gave its nod for army {hardware} purchases value 2.23 trillion rupees (US $26.76 billion). But what was lacking from the acceptance of necessity (AoN) for big-ticket purchases like fighter jets and helicopters is the AoN for 114 Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA).

The IAF, grappling with dwindling fighter squadrons and an ageing fleet, has been making a case for the MRFA, seen because the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal re-incarnated. Despite the IAF pushing arduous for it, the Indian authorities, emphasizing “Made in India,” has not budged about buying 114 fighter jets from overseas producers at an estimated US$20 billion.

Showing its dedication to the “Make in India,” the IAF has agreed to 97 extra indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Mk1 from the Indian aerospace maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the AoN for which was granted by the DAC-led by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on November 30. The authorities’s nod has additionally come to buy 156 home-built Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) ‘Prachanda.’

The IAF is already working two squadrons of the Tejas Mk1 jets, comprising 20 every of Initial and Final Operational Clearance variants. After approval from the Modi-headed Cabinet Committee on Security, the US$6 billion order for 83 LCA Mk1A variants was positioned with HAL in February 2021.

The first lot of the LCA Mk1A jets is slated for supply to IAF in early 2024, following which these could be inducted into the purposeful squadron. The HAL has agreed to scale its manufacturing traces to ship 24 LCAs yearly.

The former Vice Chief of IAF Air Marshal Anil Khosla informed the EurAsian Times that whereas the indigenous Tejas are good to make, “there is a requirement for new-generation multi-role aircraft to maintain a balanced force (till the domestic Tejas Mk II and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft is ready).”

“MRFA aircraft need to be procured (maybe in the next installment of defense spending). These should be procured in phases (maybe two to three squadrons at a time. This would spread the expenditure over some time, and we would get later and better technology and features,” Khosla added.

During his annual press conference, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari informed the Indian media that the power plans to induct six squadrons of MRFA in a phased method. The program could be progressed beneath the ‘Make in India’ initiative of DAP-2020. The IAF floated the Request for Information in 2018 and acquired responses from eight plane varieties. The main contenders within the fray are Dassault’s Rafale, Boeing’s F-15EX, and Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen.

“ASQRs (Air Staff Qualitative Requirements) have been finalized, and detailed interactions with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) have taken place. OEM commitments for indigenous content of selected categories and ‘Make in India’ provisions are being sought. (It is) envisaged integrating indigenously developed A-A (air-to-air) and A-G (air-to-ground) weapons on MRFA being manufactured in India,” the IAF chief added.

After the response from the plane makers, the IAF has set contemporary Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQRs) and is awaiting a inexperienced sign from the federal government to ship a proposal for an AoN. There has been little ahead motion on the MRFA deal for over a yr. In the meantime, the IAF fighter squadron power is all the way down to 31 squadrons towards the sanctioned power of 42. It is trying to retire its Soviet-vintage MiG-21s by 2025, adopted by MiG-29s and Jaguars.

LCA Mk-2 Versus MRFA

The IAF has underscored the pressing want for contemporary fighter platforms at each potential alternative. And it may be safely mentioned that after the AoN comes from the South Block, which homes the Indian protection ministry, it’s going to take no less than 6 to eight years earlier than the metal birds enter its fleet.

India will want a number of plane to keep up fight parity with the People Liberation Army-Air Force (PLAAF), which stays the IAF’s major adversary for years to come back. However, the IAF nonetheless must persuade the incumbent Indian authorities that solely imported plane in such massive numbers can meet the necessity.

Air Marshal Khosla (retired) mentioned that whereas the IAF’s capabilities have elevated, its “war endurance capacity, the strength of fighter and combat support platforms”  want consideration. “Overall, the deterrence capability has not kept pace with the existing threat perception. This aspect needs to be addressed urgently,” he provides.

“While building up the capability and capacity, the most important thing to remember is that the required minimum deterrence value is to be maintained at all times (either by domestic production or outside procurement). The lesson from all the recent wars is that self-reliance in defense production is essential,” Air Marshal Khosla summed up.

An official informed the EurAsian Times earlier. “F-21, F-15E, Gripen-E, Su-35 could all be contenders. The whole process, up to aircraft delivery, will take 6 to 7 years. By then, Tejas Mk-2 may also be ready for induction. That may be the reason for the government’s indecision.”

The most important activity the IAF has is to persuade the federal government to import fighter plane within the presence of LCA Mk-2 and Mk-1A.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew the indigenous LCA ‘Tejas’ in a powerful sign of religion the federal government is reposing within the homegrown protection trade. Also, taking a cue from ongoing world conflicts, the federal government appears to have understood that the one option to obtain a world stature is to have a stable home military-industrial advanced.

LCA Mk-2 may have enhanced vary and endurance. The Mk-2 is 1,350mm longer, that includes canards, and may carry a payload of 6,500 kg in comparison with the three,500 kilograms that LCA can have. LCA Mk-2 will probably be powered by the General Electric F414-INS6 engine (earlier LCA variants used the F404).

The LCA Mk2 is predicted to have a most pace of 1.8 Mach and a service ceiling of fifty,000 toes. Heavy weapons of the SCALP class, Crystal Maze, and Spice-2000 may also be built-in into the Mk-2. The IAF is predicted to order over 200 LCA Mk-2 fighters.

The greatest query, nonetheless, stays if the ‘Mother of All Defense Deals” is lifeless or if the federal government remains to be taking time to ponder all its choices.

• Ritu Sharma has been a journalist for over a decade, writing on protection, overseas affairs, and nuclear know-how.
• She could be reached at ritu.sharma (at) mail.com
• Follow EurAsian Times on Google News