After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise move to buy 36 off the shelf Dassault Rafale fighters, bypassing an ongoing decade ...
Under the competitive Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) selection process which also selected the Dassault Rafale, ousting the Eurofighter Typhoon in the finals, 18 fighters were to bought in fly away conditions and the remaining 108 to manufactured locally in India with 50 percent technology transfer.
With no technology transfer clause and local production, the 36 Rafale fighter deal to be bought in fly away condition, has effectively jeopardised Modi's own ' Make in India' campaign to revive the Indian defense industry.
The deal is being touted as an out of box solution from Modi to meet the urgent need to arrest the dwindling fighter fleet of Indian Air Force, which is down to 39 squadrons and to 34 later this decade, from the required 44 squadrons to fight a perceived 2 front war with China and Pakistan.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in an interview have said that the Indian Air Force requires light fighter jets which are single engined, short duration and low on operating cost, rather than the expensive Rafale twinjets to replace the ageing Indian Mig-21 fleet, which will be phased out by 2020.
The indigenously built Tejus fighter which is slated to replace the Mig-21s, is expected to achieve final operational clearence later this year. As the aircraft is short on IAF's operational requirements, chance for foreign fighters are high.
The Lockheed Martin F-16 and the Swedish Saab Gripen are the only single engined fighter jets available in the market suitable for India. The F-16 being US made and also operated by Pakistan has a very low chance of being getting selected.
The chance for Saab Gripen is very high since, Saab is ready for complete technology transfer, also the Gripen is of the same class of the Indian Tejus fighter. With complete ToT, the Swedish technology could be used to improve the Tejus. Also an improved version dubbed Tejus MK II that meets the IAF's requirements, featuring a more powerful GE414 engine and AESA radar is being developed. Since the GE414 powers the Gripen NG which also sports the only second generation Raven AESA radar, the Tejus MK II re-engining and upgrade would be easier.
The speculation for Gripen increased after Maharashtra state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last Wednesday visited the Saab's Linkoping facility in Sweden where the Gripens are manufactured. He said the visit is part of the 'Make in India' campaign to setup local production in the state.
