Delay in AMCA, to be inducted by 2035 | Should IAF procure F-35? #iaf #indianairforce

AMCA to be inducted in 2035

In an interview with Vayu Aerospace & Defence review, the CAS VR Chaudhary has informed about the induction of two major platforms Tejas Mark-2 & AMCA. As per the update from CAS, the Tejas Mark-2 will be inducted into IAF from 2030 onwards and AMCA will be inducted from 2035 onwards. For Tejas Mark-2 atleast the fund amounting to Rs 9000 crore has been approved but the funding approval of AMCA is still awaited.

The developmental cost of AMCA is estimated to be around Rs 15,000 crore, with the first prototype “rollout” by 2025-26 and production of the Mark-1 jets slated to begin in 2030-31 under the “aggressive timelines” set by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). A more realistic timeframe for the AMCA induction to kick-off, however, would be around 2035.

The PSQR (Preliminary design review) for AMCA is complete and it has entered into CDR (Critical Design Review) phase. Once the CDR is complete - which according to ADA should be completed by 2nd half of 2022, the full fledge work can start on the prototype development subject to funding approval from the government.

In summary, IAF will have to wait minimum 8 years to get indigenous and much capable 4.5th generation fighter Tejas Mark-2 and 13 years for 5th generation indigenous fighter AMCA.

Delay in AMCA: Serious capability gap for IAF

The delay in the development of indigenous fighter jet platforms only means the victory for the foreign OEMs. While attamnirbharta is way ahead for armed forces but it can’t be at the cost of serious capability gap. China is inducting its latest J-20 fighter jet which is not exactly a 5th generation fighter but still a very potent platform. Its second 5th generation fighter jet FC-31 is set to enter service shortly. The Chinese Air Force had a fleet of more than 50 J-20 jets in 2021. In next one decade, China will greatly enhance the capability of J-20 as they have now a platform of next generation fighter. On contrary, IAF has no other option at present and the situation remains the same for next one decade.

F-35 an option for IAF?

Considering this capability gap, it does makes sense to procure the 5th generation fighter jet from a foreign OEM. On 4th of October even CAS has mentioned that IAF is looking for 4.5th and 5th generation fighter jet via MRFA program. At present none of the contenders which are part of MRFA has 5th generation fighter jet in the offering. The only true 5th generation fighter jet is F-35 and F-22. Since F-22 Raptor has not been approved by US government for export, the only 5th generation fighter which Indian Air Force can procure is F-35.

This year, US House of Representatives had also passed a legislative amendment as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Under this act US government is planning to expand cooperation on emerging technologies which also includes 4th and 5th generation fighter jet. However, F-35 is not yet an official contender for MRFA.

At present the Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQR) is being finalised for MRFA program prior to seeking Govt approval. As per CAS, the Programme would progress under the Make in India initiative with focus on a substantial transfer of key technologies to an Indian Production Partner. This raises another serious doubt if US will agree to it as it always had reservations in past when it comes to sharing of technologies.

F-35 Challenges

While F-35 is only true 5th generation fighter, it is having a very high operational cost. The per hour flight costs of F-35 varies from US$31-36,000. Rafale per hour operational cost is around $19,000-$21,000 and that of F/A-18 $13,000-$20,000. At present, the F-35s are the 2nd most expensive fighter (1st one being F-22 Raptor) in terms of operational cost which if inducted is going to burn the pocket of IAF.

==========WHOMSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN=============
Most of the pictures clip or BGM included in the Video
Belongs to their Respected Owners and we do not claim rights.
We are using them under following act:
=================DISCLAIMER=======================
UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1976, ALLOWANCE IS MADE FOR "FAIR USE" FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM,
COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING, SCHOLARSHIP, AND RESEARCH. FAIR USE IS A USE PERMITTED BY COPYRIGHT STATUTE THAT MIGHT
OTHERWISE BE INFRINGING. NON-PROFIT, EDUCATIONAL OR PERSONAL USE TIPS THE BALANCE IN FAVOR OF FAIR USE.
Follow us on social media:
==============THANKS FOR WATCHING!================
PLEASE LIKE SHARE & SUBSCRIBE
: "INDIAN DEFENSE ANALYSIS"

AMCA & Tejas Mark2 artistic rendering credit to Kuntal Biswas
Music: Eternal Garden - Dan Henig

[anbusethupathy]

Why 2035 it's too early let's wait till year 3000 no problem with that

[rathanapparathanappa]

This is what I hate in my country INDIA. In every Military project there is a severe delay. Which affects our security of the nation. ❤️🇮🇳

[challacustica]

Buying the F35 will make us beholden to too many US policies. Why not go for the Su-57 or the Su-75? Russia might not be acquiring either domestically because they can't afford it, but they're certainly going to be cheaper than the F-35 and most importantly, Russia is willing to let us produce them. We should be looking into a 5th generation we can at least produce ourself, not one that is imported entirely.

[manh]

US agents have started pitching for F-35. I remember Ajay Shukla a big proponent of US fighters. He wanted AMCA program to be shut down in favour of F-35s

[jithinprakash]

Why is Amca intensioally delayed this is why we need private company so they will not delay their product because it will affect their profit

[gambler]

" J20 not exactly 5th generation fighter jet" U drunk?

[abymathew]

We should hire Turkey as our AMCA building partner and grant them enough fund....THEY WILL BUILD IT BEFORE 2025...😏😏😏😏😏😏

[anbusethupathy]

F35 acquisition will dug a huge grave for a self reliant dreams in aerospace industry.

[cp_pdn]

IAF making excuses to get MRFA going ?

[HemanthKumarJadhav]

There is no way US senate is going to allow the sale of F-35 to country which has S-400.

[sivakrishnan]

Better buy su57 or su75 and equip it with our own system

[siachen]

US will retire it's f22 while amca comes to production.

[eternal]

Then why we are working on amca mark 1 . If in 2035, other countries will be developing the 6th gen, we need to compete with them.
I lost all my hope on amca now after seeing this.
This should be a big warning, i mean there should be new company which makes stealth tech in india which makes 5th and 5.5th gen before amca, then it would be big competition to tejas and hal

[GhostRillley]

USA is not going to sell F35 so easily because of S 400 they banned turkey, Turkey was program partner, *F35* has highest maintainance cost +
*India* is seeking technologie transer under mrfa deal Which America does not do with anyone, *India's* demand is that India will manufacture jets in india coming with mrfa in India itself us wont agree

[GhostRillley]

*There* *is* *no* *delay*,
the airforce has been saying from the beginning that the induction of amca mk1 will happen by 2032-35, do not show the news by twisting it, for views,
*The* *CDR* *of* *Amca* mk1 *has* *been* *done* and the *detail* *design* *review* is being done by the Airforce.
*The* *Government* *of* *India* *will* *release* *the* *prototype* *fund* *in* *the* *next* *year's* *budget* and after that *it* *will* *take* *two* *years* *for* *the* *rollout* .

[shivamdixit]

Hahaha every one knows we can't develop that untill 2040 and there is a possibility gov. Will drop the plan midway We don't even have single Tejas mark1A yet after development of 40 years 🤣🤣🤣

[ashleysilver]

If the prototype is coming out in 2-3 years why should the induction be in 2035? Doesnt make sense. The design and stealth fabric has already been finalized. AMCA 1 will run on GE engines but AMCA 2 will have an indigenous engine.

[silent_guy]

IAF can't operate 114 F - 35s because of high operational cost. India should limit F - 35s to 2 squadrons if we need them. Still we need 114 Rafaels or Typhoons. PAF will add more jets and drones from China and Turkiye. We should learn from Israel - faster and deadlier all because they invest their money and human resources on R&D.

[rozigamming]

2035 is to delay .. that year 7generation type will be produce

[ErickSubverter]

I still don't understand real reason of delay ???