SOURCE: Anand SG / FOR MY TAKE / IDRW.ORG
With Media reports emerging about major differences emerging between India and Russia on Joint development of a 5th generation fighter jet based on Russia’s Pak-fa over price demanded by Russia for Customization and Indian air force still not convinced about the maturity of the technology developed for Pak-Fa , it seems more or less Project is in the back-burner if not completely dead .
Russians officially now seem to have strategically tied sale of S-400 Air defence System to India only if they have deal on Pak-fa with India, it is pretty much clear now that Russians do not have funds nor Research to complete the project unless India injects much-needed funds into Pak-Fa project which will provide India little share in technological know-how of complex next-generation aviation technology since India’s Work-share is quite limited to provide nonessential systems for the project .
like always Indian Air force too does not seem to have any backup plans regarding procurement of 5th generation fighter jet program which will be placed at the top tier of its aircraft inventory and will overtake current frontline 4.5++ generation fighter jets like Sukhoi-30 fighters in near future.
While few countries have initiated their own 5th generation fighter jets program in recent years, only United States can offer Lockheed Martin developed F-35 5th generation fighter jets which will become operational in dozen air forces around the world by 2020.
Countries like Japan and South Korea-Indonesia too have their own 5th generation fighter jet programs which are of similar capabilities and categories like that of India’s own AMCA 5th generation fighter jet program for India to take notice or consider seriously.
Russia’s Mig Corporation proposed LMFS single-engine, Stealthy multirole combat aircraft program is interesting program which will replace Mig-29 and is still in preliminary stage which can benefit India greatly if offered to be part of the project but status of the project is still in question due to lack of any developments reported in last few years for India to consider it seriously .
Coming back to India;s 5th generation AMCA project under which India aims to develop Multi-role Stealth aircraft which can perform multi-mission operations when required in the area of operation seems to be ideal program for India to bank on since it will allow India to fund Research and development of the project which will help India in other future projects which will return allow India to develop local infrastructure/ manpower while still maintaining higher degree of customization as per user requirements .