As IAF chief Amar Preet Singh recently lamented the slow pace of fighter jet production by India’s public sector, former IAF veterans are seeking “risk-sharing” partners in the development of fifth-generation fighter jets. is proposed to be introduced.
Air Marshal M. Mattheswaran (retired), who worked on the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) and negotiated the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) with the Russian side, hints that India will get a ‘risk-sharing’ partner I am doing it. Before that, India should negotiate with two or three countries at the same time to gain maximum influence.
“We have to choose a partner. We need a risk-sharing partner for AMCA and someone who can bridge the development gap for LCA Mk2. A company like Saab is ready to take over. “There may be some cases where it’s not possible,” Mattheswaran told EuroAsian Times.
Saab is aggressively marketing the aircraft to India under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) contest and has promised to deliver it in record time. Saab said it will deliver the first Gripen-E/F aircraft to the IAF within three years of signing the contract.
The company was already exploring the possibility of manufacturing in India in order to fully transfer its technology to the country, appealing to the IAF’s desire to produce fighter jets in India.
The IAF has made the MRFA under the ‘Make in India’ policy under which the aircraft will be manufactured under license in India, strengthening India’s local industry and enabling the IAF to locally upgrade and modify the aircraft without any hindrance. He has expressed his desire to acquire the
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Meanwhile, Saab has offered to start full-scale production of everything from the aircraft to systems and software in India. Plans are underway to rapidly domesticate the platform. The fact that the single-engine Gripen E is one of the most modern fighters in the contest supports this issue.
Air Chief Marshal Mattheswaran is considering not only the MRFA contract but also cooperation with AMCA.
So far, only three countries in the world have fifth-generation stealth fighters: China, the United States, and Russia. Turkey is also collaborating with Azerbaijan, and there are reports that it will involve Pakistan in the development of the KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet.
The KAI KF-21 Baromae is an advanced Korean-Indonesian multi-purpose aircraft scheduled to enter service in 2026.
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Rather than going it alone, Air Force Commander Mattheswaran suggests working with new partners to accelerate technology development and improve economies of scale.
Matheswaran suggested that India should avoid the US product, the F-21, which is nothing but a repackaged version of the F-16.
“I think you shouldn’t look at the F-21. It’s a 50-year-old design, the F-16, and you can’t just put new avionics on it and sell it. It doesn’t serve any purpose either. India has to look to the future,” Matheshwaran added.
Still, Matheswaran is of the opinion that India should keep its options open and negotiate with two or three countries at the same time. “Those who meet our requirements and are ToT ready should be asked to come and manufacture in India. There is no other way,” he added.
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Delays in the procurement and development of indigenous fighter jets have reduced the Indian Air Force’s fleet of aging jets to protect India’s airspace. As reported by EuroAsian Times, the IAF currently has more surface-to-air missile forces than fighter jets.
First, he argues, we need to accept that the capability gap between India and China is very large and can be bridged with a “long-term strategic focus.”
“First, we need to accept it and invest in research. There has been an uproar on social media following the news that China’s sixth-generation fighter prototype will be scrapping the LCA Mk2. If we scrap the LCA MK2, it will be a repeat of the HF-24 Marut story. It should continue. The LCA Mk2 will definitely happen. Work on the engine should continue,” Matheshwaran added. .
Former IAF Deputy Chief Air Marshal Anil Khosla also agreed on the need for LCA MK2. When asked if the IAF should abandon its plans to acquire 4th generation and above aircraft and instead opt for 5th generation fighters, Air Marshal Anil Khosla (retd) told EuroAsian Times that he said. The urgent need of the moment is to increase our combat capabilities and increase the strength of our fighter aircraft. To fill this gap, accelerate the project, increase the production rate of Tejas Mk-1A and Mk-2, and accelerate the AMCA project, aircraft need to be procured under the MRFA contract process. ”
When asked if the Gripen was the best choice, Air Force Commander Khosla said: Adding another type of aircraft adds to an already diverse inventory. Most candidates offer the benefits listed (ToT, Manufactured in India, etc.). You should evaluate the scope of these offers. However, if the deal is profitable and gives you the maximum return, buy the Gripen. ”
Can IAF close the gap with PLAAF?
India is putting in place an ambitious plan to achieve self-reliance in domestic fighter jet production. Apart from the light fighter variant, the Indian defense industry has been given the nod by the government to develop the fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) in 2024. But by the time AMCA begins flying, China plans to have 1,000 J-20 “Mighty Dragon” fifth-generation jets in place.
China continues to struggle with fighter jet engines. However, as the first country in Asia to operate stealth aircraft, India has a nearly 15-year lead in maturing the capabilities of the fifth-generation fighter jets scheduled to enter service with India AMCA.
HAL is already working on increasing its capacity to manufacture more LCA Mk1As to meet the IAF’s orders. After that, work on LCA MK 2 will take place. Then it’s AMCA’s turn.
Undoubtedly, there are calls among Indian military experts for India to accelerate its timeline. Therefore, working with risk-sharing partners seems to be the solution.
“At the current level of technology, going it alone is not a realistic option for India. India needs to expedite the development of LCA Mk2 and AMCA and properly implement MUM-T ‘Royal Wingman’ technology. Many countries have cooperation channels. Should India join GCAP or the French-led FCAS program? These are difficult calls. Cooperation means sharing costs and risks,” muses Air Force Commander (retired) Anil Chopra.
According to DRDO’s schedule, AMCA’s first flight “could take seven years and induction could be completed within 10 years from now.” The schedule for the first flight has already been pushed back from 2027 to 2030, with introduction scheduled for 2035.
Ritu Sharma has been writing about defense and foreign affairs for nearly 17 years. She holds a master’s degree in conflict studies and peace management from the University of Erfurt, Germany. Her areas of interest include the Asia-Pacific, the South China Sea, and aviation history. Contact her at ritu.sharma (at) mail.com.
