Defense News , India :- In a recent update to a parliamentary standing committee, the government revealed that the procurement of 114 multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) is actively progressing under the Make-in-India framework. The committee, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jual Oram, recommended exploring the option of acquiring fifth-generation fighter aircraft "over the counter" if delays persist in the MRFA project.
The parliamentary panel report, presented in Parliament on Wednesday, highlighted concerns over delays in the supply of 40 light combat aircraft (LCA) to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and setbacks in the Kaveri jet engine project. Given the challenges faced by the IAF, the committee suggested that the government should consider swift procurement of advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft to maintain a robust defense force.
The IAF initiated the MRFA procurement with an RFI in April 2019, aiming to acquire 114 aircraft at a cost of approximately USD 18 billion. However, the committee expressed apprehension about potential delays, pointing to the challenges faced in previous projects such as the LCA and Kaveri engine.
The Kaveri project, aimed at developing an indigenous fighter jet engine, has encountered significant delays, contributing to the concerns raised by the parliamentary panel. The government informed the committee that the IAF currently operates with 31 fighter aircraft squadrons, falling short of the authorized strength of 42. Despite this, the government assured that the IAF remains fully capable of defending the nation.
To address the dwindling strength of fighter squadrons, the IAF plans to induct the MRFA in a phased manner, with the procurement process aligned with the Make-in-India provisions of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020. The government emphasized its commitment to implementing multi-pronged approaches to overcome challenges and ensure timely and budget-friendly realization of the Make-in-India initiative.
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