India's defense establishment is navigating the complex path to fifth-generation fighter aircraft capability. While the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program is the stated priority, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief has signaled a contingency plan, suggesting the exploration of foreign options like Russia's Su-57 if the AMCA project encounters substantial delays. The IAF chief underscored the urgent requirement to increase the number of aircraft in its inventory, aiming for an annual procurement of 36 to 40 jets in the coming years. Concurrently, India is advancing towards finalizing the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal for 114 Rafale jets from France within the current financial year.

India's defense establishment is navigating the complex path to fifth-generation fighter aircraft capability. While the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program is the stated priority, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief has signaled a contingency plan, suggesting the exploration of foreign options like Russia's Su-57 if the AMCA project encounters substantial delays. The IAF chief underscored the urgent requirement to increase the number of aircraft in its inventory, aiming for an annual procurement of 36 to 40 jets in the coming years. Concurrently, India is advancing towards finalizing the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal for 114 Rafale jets from France within the current financial year.

India's defense establishment is navigating the complex path to fifth-generation fighter aircraft capability. While the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program is the stated priority, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief has signaled a contingency plan, suggesting the exploration of foreign options like Russia's Su-57 if the AMCA project encounters substantial delays. The IAF chief underscored the urgent requirement to increase the number of aircraft in its inventory, aiming for an annual procurement of 36 to 40 jets in the coming years. Concurrently, India is advancing towards finalizing the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal for 114 Rafale jets from France within the current financial year.

A few days after Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh categorically stated that India has neither opted for a foreign fifth-generation fighter programme nor taken a decision to pursue one and highlighted indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme as the path to acquire the fifth-generation capability, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has come out with a statement, suggesting that India could be exploring other options if there are delays in AMCA.

Addressing a press conference ahead of Air Force Day, the Air Chief Marshal also said that the force may have to look at the procurement of another platform if the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme faces delays.

The AMCA programme has now reached the stage where Requests for Proposals (RFPs) have been invited from shortlisted vendors.

"If there are delays in the AMCA fifth-generation fighter programme, we may have to look at other options. Russia has offered the Su-57, but no decision has been taken yet. We would like to increase the number of aircraft in our inventory."

Earlier on Thursday, the defence secretary had stated, “As of now, we haven't gone, or we haven't taken a decision, to go in for any global or outside fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme. Our programme is AMCA.”

While answering a question on the depleting strength of fighter squadrons, the IAF chief clarified that the IAF needs at least 36 to 40 aircraft annually in the next few years.

He said air power remains crucial in the context of overall military strength and that India needs to further ramp up its air power.

The IAF chief also said India is looking at finalising the much-awaited multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) deal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government framework with France by this financial year provided things go as per plan.

The price negotiations and other critical issues relating to the project are currently underway.

Meanwhile, responding to a question on whether HAL will be penalised for the delays in LCA Tejas Mark 1A, the IAF chief said "It happens that you plan something, but things get delayed. But this time, the delay has been much. We are also looking towards Mark 2. All these will be able to fill in the gaps that exist."

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