Team Blitz India
The year 2024 saw the Indian Air Force (IAF) flexing its muscles with mega wargames. The possibility of the US Air Force’s F-35 fighter jet taking part in the impending multi-national drills ‘Tarang Shakti’ in August will be a boost to the IAF, which is without a 5th-generation aircraft.
If F-35A takes part in Tarang Shakti, it will be the second time that the Lightning II will be soaring in Indian skies. The F-35A Lightning II debuted in India during the Aero-India 2023.
The US has also been canvassing to sell its best F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F-21, to India. The US has underscored the F-21 as the first step towards getting F-35 fighter jets. But the question remains: Will India take the bait? The permutation and combination that have been used to achieve the IAF’s desired capability have also seen the Indian Government give a green light to the proposal to design and manufacture India’s indigenous 5th-generation fighter aircraft, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by the Prime Minister, allocated Rs 15,000 crore ($2B) for the design of the prototype, which is expected to be powered by indigenous jet engines with a capacity of 110 kN.
The IAF, which is down to 31 squadrons against the required strength of 42 squadrons of fighter jets, has underscored the urgent need for modern fighter platforms at every possible opportunity. It has even floated the tender to purchase 114 Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) that are awaiting Acceptance of Necessity from the Indian Defence Ministry sitting in South Block.
The American F-21, specially configured by Lockheed Martin for the IAF, is also in the fray for the MRFA deal, along with the F15E, Gripen-E, and Su-35.
Lockheed Martin, the world’s biggest defense contractor, has partnered with India’s leading industrial house, Tata, to manufacture F-21s in India. The move is aimed at meeting the requirements of the Indian Government, which seeks to strengthen the Indian aerospace industry.
The added advantage is the Joint Venture Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited, which currently manufactures components for F-16s and would manufacture the aircraft in India should it bag the MRFA deal.
