SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is poised to release a new tender for the acquisition of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), a long-pending program aimed at bolstering its combat capabilities, according to recent reports . However, in a notable development, the IAF has also expressed a keen interest in procuring a specific aircraft in limited numbers to address its immediate operational needs, potentially fast-tracking part of the acquisition process to bridge critical gaps in its fleet.
The IAF is grappling with a significant shortfall in its fighter squadron strength, currently standing at 31 squadrons against a sanctioned requirement of 42. This depletion is exacerbated by the impending retirement of aging fleets, including the Jaguar, Mirage 2000, and MiG-29 aircraft, with 10 squadrons expected to be phased out by 2037 .
The situation is further complicated by delays in the delivery of indigenous aircraft like the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark-1A, primarily due to supply chain issues affecting American engine suppliers. Amid rising regional threats, particularly with China expanding its air force and Pakistan receiving Chinese support, the IAF is under pressure to modernize swiftly to maintain strategic deterrence, especially in a potential two-front war scenario .
The MRFA program, often dubbed “MMRCA 2.0,” is a continuation of a previous effort to procure 126 aircraft, which was scrapped in 2015 after India opted for a government-to-government deal to purchase 36 Rafale jets from France’s Dassault Aviation [Web ID: 11]. The upcoming tender, expected to be issued soon, will likely see fierce competition among global aerospace giants, including Dassault’s Rafale, Saab’s Gripen, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin’s F-21, Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15EX, and Russia’s MiG-35 and Su-35, with the possibility of the Su-57 entering the fray .
IAF is considering a fast-tracked acquisition of 40 additional Rafale fighters through a government-to-government (G2G) deal with France, potentially under a “MRFA-plus agreement” . This move is seen as a strategic decision to leverage the existing fleet of 36 Rafales, which the IAF inducted between 2020 and 2023, offering economies of scale in maintenance, training, and logistics. The Rafale’s compatibility with Indian weapons systems and its proven 4.5-generation capabilities further strengthen its case .
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