Delays ground IAF’s urgent need for modern fighter jets
After having spent over three decades in anticipation and frustration for an Indian order for fighter jets, American defence giant Lockheed Martin has unveiled the F-21 multi-role fighter jet especially for India at the Aero India show.
These jets would be manufactured locally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, as it is still eyeing a multi-billion dollar order. With the Make in India peg, Lockheed hopes to warm up New Delhi’s tough but snail-slow decision making process, often accused of being wrapped in red tape.
The jets unveiled here are specifically configured for the Indian Air Force. Lockheed Martin’s F-21 provides "unmatched" ‘Make in India’ opportunities and strengthens India’s path to an advanced air-power future, the firm said announcing the plan on the opening day at the Aero India 2019 air show here. Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems would produce the F-21 in India, for India, it said in a statement. But the F-21s are no match for some of the advanced fighter jets in the market today, say defence experts. It is at best a stop-gap arrangement and may address the crucial issue of providing jobs locally. The US Defence major had earlier offered its F-16 fighter jets to India, but New Delhi kept the firm waiting even as the Indian Air Force fleets started showing signs of ageing and the world of fighter jets zoomed past. India needs 45 fleets to meet the combined air threat from Pakistan and China, but has an abysmal 25 fleets. Moreover, about a third of India’s 650-strong fleet is more than 40 years old and will have to be phased out over the next decade. Despite pressure from the Indian Air Force, defence decision makers are a legion in delaying processes making India’s defence capabilities extremely vulnerable. While India is still mulling over F-16s, countries like Japan and South Korea have acquired modern stealth fighters such as Lockheed’s F-35.
India’s decision making is lead-footed as New Delhi has a long history of corruption allegations - right from Bofors AB guns in the 1980s brought down the Congress government to the Rafale deal of France.