India’s fighter jet conundrum

Source– The post is based on the article “India’s fighter jet conundrum” published in “The Hindu” on 21st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Internal Security – Defense Technologies

Relevance– Issues related to armed forces

News– The article explains issues related with the squadron strength of the air force.

What is the present and upcoming scenario of squadron strength of the Indian air force?

Indian air force has today 31 squadrons against the sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons. It won’t go up in the next decade but can go further down by 2029.

If current orders are delivered, and the case for 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) has progressed, India can have 29 to 31 squadrons by 2030.

The three Mig-21 squadrons will be phased out by 2025. Also, the Jaguars, Mirage-2000s and Mig-29s will begin going out by the end of the decade.

By 2027-28 the first of the MIG-29s will start going out. By early 2040s, most of these types will be phased out, some of the earlier batch of SU-30s will also start going out.

The future squadron strength will depend on the 83 Light Combat Aircraft MK1A, LCA-MK2 and MRFA. The decision on MRFA is essential to arrest this drawdown.

What are the future procurement plans for fighter jets?

The IAF has in total contracted 272 SU-30s. A deal to procure 12 additional SU-30MKIs and 21 additional MIG-29s from Russia has been struck.

Increasing the low availability rates of Su-30 and other fighters in service will offset some of the shortfalls in the interim. However, that could be potentially impacted due to the Ukraine war.

India has an ambitious plan for the acquisition of over 500 fighter jets. A bulk of them are indigenously designed and manufactured. However, these are at various stages of development. Their manufacturing and timely deliveries are critical.

The fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft is awaiting CCS sanction. The development of it would take 10 years after sanction. The project cost of AMCA is estimated to be around ₹15,000 crore.

The RFI for 114 MRFA was issued in April 2019 to global aircraft manufacturers. But there has been no progress. The project is yet to receive the Acceptance of Necessity, the starting point of the procurement process.

The MRFA is a reincarnation of the earlier Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) contest for 126 jets.

What are some facts about the India LCA programme?

The LCA was originally intended as a Mig-21 replacement. It has seen a series of delays and has now come back on track.

The LCA achieved Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) in December 2013 and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) in February 2019.

In February 2020, the Defence Ministry signed a ₹48,000 crore deal with HAL for 83 LCA-MK1A. HAL will be delivering the first three aircraft in 2024 and 16 aircraft per year for the subsequent five years.

A more capable and larger LCA-MK2 received sanction from the Cabinet Committee on Security in September 2022 at a total cost of ₹9000 crore. It is expected to be ready for production by 2027.

The LCA-MK2 will be like the Mirage-2000 in terms of capability. There is also a Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter on the drawing board for the Navy’s aircraft carriers. The TEDBF is expected to take its first flight by 2026 and be ready for production by 2031.

The LCA project has seen long delays. It has also evolved in tune with the changing technological requirements.

What the IAF is flying today is very different from what was actually conceived at that point of time. The one we are flying today is called federated architecture. Any new weapon or any new system can be integrated much more easily.