India’s indigenous fighter jets will take off after sweeping aside American Turbulence
HF24 Marut could not mature and reach its full potential due to British tactics of delaying the promised suitable engine.
The USA sanctions after the 1998 Nuclear Tests by India had caused considerable delay to the Indigenous Tejas fighter jet project. However finally India ensured the fighter jet taking to the skies and further development continued.
However today India’s indigenous fighter jet program appears to have hit some turbulence once again. Apparent indecision on the part of the Joe Biden on sharing the promised technology (on heavy payment of course) for manufacturing engines for Tejas Mk1A and Tejas Mk2 jets has certainly added turbulence to the project.
The above will surely cause some delay but will be a big boon because then India will have no alternative left but go all out on its own for maturing the Kaveri engine.
Once upon a time, USA had denied export of Cray Super computers to India, we not only developed Param a better system, today we are at par with G7 countries on Quantum Computation.
Similarly USA and Western Countries had tried to kill the Indian indigenous integrated missile project through their Missile Technology Control Regime. Today we are at par in missile technology with all of them. Same was the case with cryogenic rocket technology.
On the face of it, some may be thinking that country’s policymakers have probably fallen into the trap of vested international lobbies that do not want India to attain self-reliance in fighter jet technology, including fifth generation stealth jet technology. Yes, international lobby is trying its best but India too is working quietly. Though now it has to increase speed and go all out.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has already cleared Rs 6,500 crore for the project to develop the TEJAS MK-2, a more lethal and upgraded version of India’s home-grown Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. Similarly, the ongoing project to develop the fifth generation stealth aircraft, named Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), has also been given the go ahead.
Both the TEJAS MK-2 and AMCA are planned to be powered by the General Electric F414 engine. It’s an American afterburning turbofan engine in the 22,000-pound (98 kN) thrust class and is produced by GE Aviation.
Despite multiple rounds of discussions with US authorities, including during National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s visit to Washington in February, regarding licensed production of GE F414 engines in India, the matter is stuck with the Biden government.
GE is apparently willing to set up an engine manufacturing plant in India in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) or other private players, but clearance from the US government is awaited.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) would require nothing less than 240 TEJAS MK-2 aircraft-equivalent to 12 squadrons. Prior to that the IAF should be inducting another 140 or seven squadrons of Tejas Mk1A and upgrading the two Mk1 Squadrons to Mk1A. Besides there should be around nine squadrons of the AMCA Mk1. All of these have been planned with American engines.Exports to third countries if it happens will be in addition.
Given the potentially massive business involved with GE, the Indian government is insisting on transfer of manufacturing technology and production of the engines in the country. “India is only asking for knowhow of the manufacturing, not knowhow of the design. Even then, the US is not agreeing,” said a defence source.
The US probably wants to place enough strings to exercise strategic control over the production plan of the aircraft. We’ll this will lead to its further alienation in relations with India for sure.
To keep the programme running smoothly, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), which is working on the AMCA for the past two decades, has even opened doors for private players to join them in the development of the jet.
Initially USA tried its level best to foist its obsolete F16 on India but it got rejected out right because of inferior technology. Then came a clever next move that is selling of F21 a new avatar of F16. This also found no takers in India.
So in February, the US had brought its F-35 stealth jet for participation at the Aero India 2023 in Bangalore. This was the maiden appearance of the F-35 in India. Sceptics believe the F-35 participation was a bid to divert the attention of India’s stealth jet developers. Over the F-35’s entry a defence official said: “Our decision-makers are falling prey to international game and this is delaying India’s fighter jet program. Vested international arms lobbies do not want India to attain this niche technology.”
India has no need for the over rated and frightfully expensive F35 so it will not fall for it. However USA may be angry that even its F18 now soon going out of production will also get rejected by the Indian Navy. Therefore it is trying to delay the transfer of technology for manufacturing of GE jet engines.
Well the above should spur India to go all out for development of Kaveri and then Kaveri Mk2. Meanwhile to offset the possible delay and a faster build up of Squadron numbers, India must go in for Make in India of four more Rafale Squadrons and around six squadrons of SU 57 MkIs.
