SOURCE: AFI
In a recent interaction with idrw.org, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official shed light on the ongoing delays in the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) ambitious Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender. The program, aimed at procuring 114 advanced fighter jets to bolster India’s aerial combat capabilities, has been languishing since the issuance of the Request for Information (RFI) several years ago.
The crux of the delay, as per the MoD official, centers around the IAF’s yet-to-be-finalized Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFP is a critical document in defense procurement, detailing the specific requirements and conditions under which the bidding process will occur.
The IAF has not completed the draft RFP, which means the MoD cannot proceed to seek an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), a step essential for moving forward with any major procurement.
The IAF is keen on conducting field evaluation trials for each of the offered aircraft. This process would see potential fighters being put through rigorous testing under Indian conditions to ensure they meet the stringent operational requirements of the force.
Once the RFP is ready, it must be sent to the MoD, which can then seek the necessary financial and strategic clearances from other ministries. There’s an underlying push for a procurement process that is transparent, efficient, and less prone to the controversies that have historically surrounded such defense deals in India.
As India looks to maintain its air superiority against evolving regional threats, the urgency to finalize the MRFA tender cannot be overstated. The IAF, along with the MoD, must navigate these bureaucratic and technical challenges swiftly to ensure that India’s skies remain well-defended.
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