India Needs to Align itself with the French Rafale Programme as One of the Multiple Options to Boost IAF’s Fighter Force Levels
With the Indian Navy going in for the Maritime Rafale in a Rs. 63,000 crore (Euro 7 Bn) deal signed with the French Dassault for the procurement of 26 aircraft with weapons and allied systems, a way has been opened up for the IAF too to go in for additional land-based Rafale fighters to augment its fighter force. Even though it had acquired 36 Rafale aircraft in the recent past to form two squadrons of the multi-role fighters, IAF has severely lagged behind in its fighter aircraft holdings from a high of 39.5 squadrons to a level which is staring in the eye to slide down below a 30-squadron force level which, keeping in view the prevailing ‘two-and-a-half front’ security threat scenario, would be nothing short of catastrophic.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, since taking over as the 28th CAS in January this year has been lamenting on the dwindling fighter aircraft strength of the IAF. Though a staunch supporter of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, and LCA (Tejas) programme, he rightly feels that, presently, a mixed approach would be required to augment the IAF’s fighter force to the desired levels. It is in this context, the GOI has floated a global request for the acquisition of 114 fighter aircraft from external sources, The MRFA (Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft) programme has elicited response from global vendors includes Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen, Lockheed Martin F-21, Russian Su-35/MiG-35, Boeing F-15EX/F-18 EF and Dassault Rafale. Most of these aircraft had already participated in the earlier selection process for 126 MMRCA aircraft in which Dassault Rafale had emerged as the winner but the general contention would be that these aircraft have gone through a lot of improvements in the preceding years. It is felt that instead of going through a full-fledged set of trials, these differences could be studied separately and evaluated comprehensively.
Incidentally, Dassault has reportedly offered Rafale F4 variant as part of the MRFA tender for the 114 jets. Dassault is offering Rafale F4 jet as a highly advanced option for the IAF. According to Dassault, Rafale F4 brings numerous upgrades over the Rafale F3R jets currently operated by the IAF. Among them are Thales’ software-defined radio, satellite communications, RBE2 AESA radar, Thales targeting pod, front sector electronics system and helmet-mounted display capabilities. MBDA’s MICA NG (Next Generation) air-to-air missile and 1,000 kg variant of Safron’s AASM (Armament Air-Sel Modulair) ‘HAMMER’ precision-guided munition – one of the significant advantages of the Rafale F4 variant, which puts Rafale as a forerunner in the MRFA competition.
It should be obvious that new Rafale acquisition would allow a seamless accretion to the already existing force. It would also make it possible for optimal utilization of the existing ground infrastructure already existing at IAF’s bases in Ambala and Hasimara, thus minimising the need for creating additional ground resources.
It may also be noted that Dassault has assured Indian authorities of its willingness to open a new Rafale assembly line in India if the number of aircraft to be produced were more than 100. Dassault is also reportedly amenable to this facility producing aircraft for global customers along with the original French plant – a win-win situation indeed for India as it would not only look after its own requirements but also help it to get involved in global supply chain. It would also make it Dassault’s natural partner for the 5th/6th generation Rafale 5 and so on, if and when required.
On the indigenous front, LCA programme which had finally taken off after decades of development was literally held hostage to the whims (political?) of the otherwise reliable US engine manufacturer which put nearly two-year brake on supplies of General Electric (GE F 404-IN20) engines to India. The reason given was break in components supply chain from its components’ vendors due to Covid-19 epidemic. The supply has now been resumed with a promise by GE for additional 11 engines in 2025, followed by 20 engines per year thereafter. Notwithstanding the engine problem, manufacturing of aircraft also needs to be spruced up. HAL is setting up another assembly plant to achieve a rate of production of 24 aircraft per year.
Notably, IAF has placed an order of 83 Tejas Mk 1A post its procurement of 40 LCA Mk1s and following it up with 97 additional LCA MK 1As. Finally, IAF plans to procure 324 Tejas aircraft in its three variants MK1, Mk1A and Mk2 versions. The Mk2 Tejas is presently planned to be powered by GE 414 engine but could be reviewed if supply diversification may become an operational necessity.
– Air Marshal VK ‘Jimmy’ Bhatia (Retd)
