IAF to get fifth gen fighters only after 2019

[Major Shaitan Singh]

In a strong reality check on the status of India’s fifth generation fighters, Defence Minister A K Antony has indicated that the aircraft is not likely to enter service in this decade, saying it is scheduled to get certified only by 2019.

While both Antony and Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne have said in the past that the fighters will be ready to enter service by 2017, the minister informed Parliament on Monday that series production would start only after the aircraft gets certification.
Antony said the detailed roadmap of the development of the fighters had been carried out with Russia — the lead partner in the programme — and the aircraft was now “scheduled to be certified by 2019, following which series production will start”. This means the fighters will not enter service till the early part of the next decade.

This delay will come as a jolt to the Indian Air Force that has been expecting the fighters by 2017-18. In fact, India has not yet gone beyond signing the preliminary design contract of the fighters with Russia. Antony said an agreement on the research and development phase would be signed with Russia this year.

The fighters made their first public appearance at the Moscow Air Show in 2011. Engineers of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have started work on its Indian version that will have two pilots unlike the Russian fighters.

There is a sense of urgency to develop the aircraft given that China has progressed on the J 20 — its indigenous new generation fighters.

 

[Omega007]

Well the delay is a bit dissapointing but given the magnitude of this project....it's quite normal.Our air force can afford 1-2 years of delay but the dead line shouldn't slip more than that.If that happens,then IAF will again face problems like it's facing now.

 

[Abingdonboy]

I always thought the original 2017 timeline was unrealistic and over optimistic. Even if it comes to IAF by 2020 it will be the first 5th gen operational fighter in the region, and the IAF will be one of the first operators of such an a/c in the world at that time. Till then MMRCA, MIG-29UPG, M2K UPG and most importantly Super-30MKI can hold their own easily for the IAF.

 

[Markus]

As expected....

 

[Jason bourne]

I always thought the original 2017 timeline was unrealistic and over optimistic. Even if it comes to IAF by 2020 it will be the first 5th gen operational fighter in the region, and the IAF will be one of the first operators of such an a/c in the world at that time. Till then MMRCA, MIG-29UPG, M2K UPG and most importantly Super-30MKI can hold their own easily for the IAF.

didnt get u bro ?

 

[Abingdonboy]

didnt get u bro ?

In 2019/20 there will be very few AFs on the planet operating 5th gen fighter a/c. Hence the IAF will become one of the first such AFs in the world to operate such platforms when it comes online in 2019/20.

 

[Great-M]

Clearence in 2019- production for Russian AF 2/3 years. So it going to 2022/23 for IAF

 

[Dr. NooB NinjA]

^^^ The above fighters are to be produced in Russia only?? So is it just R&D collaboration b/w India and Russia or there will be a production line for the same in India??

 

[Abingdonboy]

^^^ The above fighters are to be produced in Russia only?? So is it just R&D collaboration b/w India and Russia or there will be a production line for the same in India??

It will be similar to how te MKI project transpired ie knock-down kits at first then full production with all raw materials sourced in-country.

 

[DANGER-ZONE]

Pity ..
So much was expected for 2017-18, it has gone even beyond this decade.
If i am not wrong, you will built FGFA out of PAK-FA like MKI and this will be done only after PAK-FA hits production and build up one or two Sqn for RAF. It is delayed beyond expectations people, it would be hard to catch up with J-20.
any way, sleep well

 

[SQ8]

Question is.. will there be a 5th gen threat in the region before that for the IAF to worry about?
not from the west anyway.. so the only question of a 5th gen threat is from the north...

 

[Secur]

How else did Indians expect ? To have PAK-FA in IAF before even Russia gets it ?

It will be similar to how te MKI project transpired ie knock-down kits at first then full production with all raw materials sourced in-country.

Joint venture , the whole project is right ?

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Question is.. will there be a 5th gen threat in the region before that for the IAF to worry about?
not from the west anyway.. so the only question of a 5th gen threat is from the north...

Point there, Oscar.
However the jockeying that may happen with the North may not reach that scale, so is it critical?
Plus; if push comes to shove, other means including 4.5+ will have to be used.

 

[Boobytrap]

only a fool would have thought of getting the pakfas by 2017..
a practical time duration would be to consider delivery times to be between 2019-2020.. not before that.

 

[OrionHunter]

the aircraft was now “scheduled to be certified by 2019, following which series production will start”.

That means we can expect the first squadron of FGFAs not before 2022-23!! Jeeez! This sucks!

I would've been dead and gone by then!