SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is considering an open tender for its ambitious Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program, which aims to procure 114 advanced fighter jets. In a significant departure from earlier plans, the IAF is pushing for a high production rate within India, aiming for 24 aircraft per year instead of the previously suggested rate of 10-14 units annually. This proposed increase in production rate could lead to additional costs for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), as a larger-scale manufacturing setup will be necessary to meet the new output requirements.
The IAF’s demand for a higher production rate reflects its urgency to quickly bolster its combat capabilities, addressing current operational demands and strengthening defences across multiple fronts. By accelerating production to 24 jets annually.
While the benefits of an increased production rate are clear, the financial implications are significant. A higher production target will require the winning vendor to establish an extensive local production infrastructure, likely involving larger facilities, additional tooling, and a more substantial workforce. These changes would translate into additional costs for the MoD, including Increased Capital Investment, Supply Chain Scaling and Technology Transfer and Workforce Training.
The proposed production target, while beneficial in terms of output, could introduce operational and logistical challenges as Foreign OEMs would need to demonstrate the capacity to ramp up production to meet the high output requirements. This might be challenging given India’s current infrastructure and the need for seamless supply chain integration.
Maintaining stringent quality standards under a high production rate is essential. The OEM and its Indian partners would need to coordinate closely to ensure that the accelerated timeline does not compromise quality.
The increased production rate might bring additional regulatory challenges, requiring close coordination between Indian authorities and foreign partners to ensure compliance with defense manufacturing standards.
NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.