SOURCE: AFI
India’s decision to withdraw from the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program with Russia has often been attributed to concerns over the aircraft’s technical shortcomings, including its limited stealth capabilities. However, the financial burden of the project appears to have been the decisive factor in India’s pullout.
The FGFA program, based on Russia’s PAK-FA or Sukhoi T-50 platform, was initially envisioned as a joint venture with a 50:50 design and work-share agreement. This collaboration promised India a stake in the development of a cutting-edge stealth fighter. However, as the program progressed, India’s participation became increasingly limited, with Russia retaining much of the design and development work.
Reports indicated that India would have needed to invest approximately $25 billion to see the FGFA project through to its completion and induction of 127 fighters into the Indian Air Force (IAF). This included costs for development, production, and operational deployment. The high price tag raised questions about the program’s affordability, especially when weighed against other priorities in India’s defense budget.
Additionally, India would have had to compromise on its original 50:50 design and work-share arrangement, effectively reducing its role to a buyer rather than a co-developer. This diminished role further undercut the strategic and technological benefits India had hoped to gain from the partnership.
hile financial concerns were central, technical issues with the FGFA also played a significant role in India’s decision. The aircraft was criticized for:
- Pseudo-Stealth Capabilities: The PAK-FA platform was found to lack true stealth features comparable to other fifth-generation fighters, such as the F-35 or F-22.
- Underwhelming Performance: Concerns over engine reliability, radar cross-section (RCS), and sensor fusion raised doubts about the FGFA’s combat effectiveness.
These shortcomings meant that the FGFA might not meet the IAF’s operational requirements, making the financial investment even harder to justify.
India’s withdrawal from the FGFA program marked a significant shift in its approach to acquiring fifth-generation fighter capabilities. Instead of relying on foreign platforms, India has prioritized the development of its own Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The AMCA program aims to deliver a true fifth-generation fighter, tailored to the IAF’s needs and built with significant indigenous content.
By focusing on the AMCA, India hopes to develop critical technologies in-house, reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, and align with its “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) vision.