India’s Fighter Jet Battle: India is now confronted with a significant task: modernizing its air force. As other nearby militaries, particularly China, invest ever more in airpower, India faces some critical choices about the path for Indian airpower. The number of Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter squadrons stands at 31; this is well beneath the sanctioned strength of 42 and puts the IAF in a precarious position. The shortfall has been a cause for concern for India, given its problematic bid to sustain air superiority in the region.
A key issue in India’s Fighter Jet Battle contest is whether to buy state-of-the-art American fighter jets, such as the F-35, or deepen relations with Russia through the local production of the Sukhoi Su-57. The F-35 is a 5th generation multirole fighter jet. But it is also an expensive proposition that could run to around $80 million (over Rs 660 crore) per unit for India. While the Su-57 may have been cheaper to develop, various technology transfer and co-production arrangements negotiated between Russia and India have not worked out. This resulted in India’s walking away from a decade-long partnership with Russia in 2018.
The American and Russian jets in question: Experts contend the media hype over their little ol’ sub with them failed to convey the nuances of India’s jet fighter competition fully. Integrating a fifth-generation F-35 with the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) plans for current homegrown projects like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is far from easy. Any deal for F-35 without co-production rights will be a straightforward sale, which may not align with Prime Minister Modi’s ambition of “Make in India.”
Equally, India’s Fighter Jet Battle game is further weighed down by the IAF’s aging fleet, which involves mainly Russian and Soviet-era assets. It’s time for a long-term replacement for the versatile Sukhoi-30 workhorse. According to data from the ISS Military Balance, China has massively increased its fleet size, while India has contracted, sparking alarm about its confidence and capacity.
India has plans for India’s Fighter Jet Battle buildup on a scale described as ambitious, given these challenges, emphasizing homegrown solutions. The IAF has planned to procure more than 500 jets, mostly light combat aircraft, such as the confirmed 83 units of the Tejas Mark 1A and 97 more on the cusp. The lighter and more advanced Tejas Mark 2 is also under development, but the homegrown stealth jet is still at least a decade from operational status.
Also, India is working toward a $20 billion Multirole Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program, which would look to acquire 114 multirole fighter jets. Under this program, foreign jets must be manufactured in India under a technology transfer agreement—a crucial sticking point that has been stuck since 2019. In contrast, the Indian government is now seeking transparency in its procurement process to avoid the scandals that marred earlier acquisitions, such as the Rafale jets.
Yet the struggle to build its fighter jets confronts three significant challenges, according to experts: financing, delays, and dependence on foreign jets. Defense spending has fallen in real terms, and the foreign fighter jet program risks dragging on. India focuses on indigenous production, but failures by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) lead to stopgap buying from abroad, becoming a vicious cycle.
Ajai Shukla, the following are some critical questions arising from the mismatch between the defense ministry’s desired vision and reality regarding the IAF’s requirements for fighter jets. Skepticism and delays have been in the Tejas Mark 1, forcing upgrades to Mark 1A and Mark 2. The long development times frustrate military leaders, who have developed fast, new capabilities and now find their needs evolving.
Even Air Marshal AP Singh, the chief of the Indian Air Force, has grumbled about slow deliveries. He stressed the dire need for more fighters to cover the gaps left by the delayed availability of promised new aircraft.
India’s stated priority is the development of a homegrown stealth fighter; more than $1 billion has already been committed to this project. However, defense experts believe that any foreign stealth in India’s Fighter Jet Battle will be considered only if India’s perception of threats is transformed. The Chinese military has fielded the J-20 and J-35 stealth fighters but is thought to lag behind the US in capabilities.
Conclusion
Therefore, the struggle for fighter jets in India is not just about buying newer and more advanced aircraft but also about creating a strong domestic defense manufacturing base of fighters.
India’s airpower future will depend on timely deliveries of indigenous jets while maintaining strong partnerships with its Western partners. While India makes these difficult choices, the outcome of India’s Fighter Jet Battle will have long-term consequences for its national security and regional stability.
