SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, aimed at procuring 114 advanced fighter jets to bolster India’s air combat capabilities, has become a national embarrassment, languishing for over a decade despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on defense modernization and self-reliance.
Launched in 2018 as a successor to the scrapped Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program, the MRFA remains mired in bureaucratic delays, indecision, and competing priorities, undermining the IAF’s operational readiness at a time of escalating regional threats from China and Pakistan. As Modi’s government enters its 11th year, the failure to finalize the $15–20 billion tender has drawn sharp criticism, with defense analysts and social media users labeling it a strategic misstep that weakens India’s deterrence.
The MRFA tender traces its roots to the MMRCA program, initiated in 2007 to acquire 126 fighters to replace aging MiG-21s and MiG-27s. After a decade-long evaluation, the Dassault Rafale emerged as the winner in 2012, but the deal collapsed in 2015 due to high costs and disagreements over technology transfer. The Modi government’s subsequent purchase of 36 Rafales in a government-to-government (G2G) deal in 2016 was a stopgap measure, leaving the IAF’s broader requirement unaddressed. The MRFA, relaunched in 2018, aimed to fill this gap with a mix of single- and twin-engine fighters, emphasizing local production under the “Make in India” initiative.
Seven contenders—Dassault Rafale (France), Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin F-21 (USA), Saab Gripen E (Sweden), Eurofighter Typhoon (Europe), MiG-35 (Russia), and Sukhoi Su-35M (Russia)—have been vying for the contract, with trials completed in 2020–21. Despite this, the tender remains stalled, with no Request for Proposal (RfP) issued, even as the IAF’s squadron strength has dwindled to 31 against a sanctioned 42. The delay, now spanning 11 years of Modi’s tenure, has been exacerbated by shifting priorities, budget constraints, and a focus on indigenous programs like the Tejas Mk-1A and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The MRFA’s stagnation is particularly glaring given recent regional developments. During Operation Sindoor (May 7–10, 2025), the IAF’s Su-30 MKI, Rafale, and Jaguar fleets successfully struck 11 Pakistan Air Force (PAF) airbases, showcasing India’s offensive capabilities. However, the operation exposed vulnerabilities, with unconfirmed losses of one Su-30MKI and one MiG-29, underscoring the need for modern fighters with advanced avionics, stealth, and beyond-visual-range (BVR) capabilities to counter Pakistan’s J-10C and potential J-35A stealth fighters. China’s deployment of over 435 new fighters, including J-20 stealth jets, further amplifies the urgency, as India’s aging MiG-21s and MiG-29s struggle to match these threats.
Second, budgetary constraints have slowed progress. The MRFA’s estimated $15–20 billion cost competes with other priorities, including S-400 air defense systems ($5.4 billion), Project 75I submarines ($7 billion), and mid-air refuellers ($2 billion). India’s defense budget, at $75 billion in 2025, is stretched thin, with 60% allocated to salaries and pensions, per Business Standard.
Third, indecision over technology transfer and industrial benefits has stalled negotiations. The MRFA mandates 50–60% localization, but contenders like Boeing and Lockheed Martin face U.S. export controls under ITAR, limiting ToT. France’s Rafale offers proven performance but restrictive source code access, while Russia’s Su-35M and Su-57E promise deeper ToT but carry geopolitical risks due to CAATSA sanctions. The complexity of evaluating seven platforms, each requiring integration with indigenous systems like the Astra missile and Uttam AESA radar, has further bogged down the process.
To salvage the MRFA, India must act decisively. The MoD should issue the RfP by Q3 2025, prioritizing contenders like the Rafale or Su-35M, which align with existing IAF infrastructure and offer deeper ToT. A G2G deal, as proposed by Russia for the Su-57E/Su-35M, could expedite deliveries, potentially fielding two squadrons by 2028. Alternatively, increasing Rafale orders to 72 jets while fast-tracking Tejas Mk-2 (120 kN engine, 2029 induction) could bridge the gap until the AMCA arrives.
India must also streamline its acquisition process, establishing a dedicated task force to cut through bureaucratic red tape. Allocating $5–7 billion initially for 36–40 jets, with phased funding for the remainder, would balance fiscal constraints. Integrating MRFA jets with indigenous systems like the BrahMos-NG and Astra Mk-3 would enhance their lethality, ensuring operational synergy.
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