Bengaluru: Amid the excitement at the Aero India 2025, which is witnessing an unprecedented face-off between American and Russian fifth-generation fighters, all eyes seem to be focused on Washington, Paris and Moscow, which will be lobbying hard for some of the mega Indian procurement programmes that are in the pipeline. Incidentally, as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Aero India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took off for France to co-chair the Paris Artificial Intelligence Action Summit 2025.
While both India and France are set to discuss multiple key projects, including modular small nuclear reactors, defence will be a key focus area. By the end of April this year, India and France are to sign deals worth over Rs 1 lakh crore for the acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets and three additional Scorpene submarines.
Though both these deals are almost done and dusted, the next big project that the French will be eyeing is the mega contract for 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA).
France’s Dassault Aviation was the frontrunner to bag the contract. However, the arrival of the Donald Trump administration in Washington has thrown open the field.
Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Washington from Paris to meet with Trump, who has already made it clear that India should buy more security equipment from the US.
Defence cooperation will be one of the key elements of bilateral relations under Trump’s administration. After the telephonic conversation between the two leaders on 27 January, the White House had issued a statement saying that Trump asked Modi to buy more American-made security equipment. As far as the US is concerned, one of the big projects that American firms are eyeing is the MRFA.
Two American firms—Boeing and Lockheed Martin—are vying for the project by offering three fighters. The US government has cleared the F-21, an upgraded version of the F-16 aircraft of Lockheed Martin, and the F-15EX and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet of Boeing for the MRFA programme.
Multiple American officials in the past have made it clear in private conversation that the F-35, the fifth-generation fighter, is not on the table as an offer to India.
However, with Trump in the Oval Office, things could change. “Trump coming in changes the dynamics. While France would have eventually won the MRFA contract, even if numbers were reduced from 114 fighters, Trump is expected to push hard for American fighters. While the Indian government has spoken about some programmes which it could offer to the Americans, MRFA will be the big-ticket one that Washington would be interested in, besides the one for aero engines,” an industry source told ThePrint.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh had last week said that India does have some procurements on the anvil in which American companies would be in the picture.
There are areas of common interest, Singh said, where “we can engage with them and possibly find common ground and win-win solutions with the new administration”.
“On the anvil, there are some other potential areas where we can talk to them in terms of transport aircraft, some infantry vehicles and possibly some additional reconnaissance aircraft. So yes, there are some potential buys, where their companies can be contenders. That is all I would say at this stage,” Singh said, specifically regarding future projects.
The reference to “some infantry vehicles” is likely for the Stryker. ThePrint was the first to report in February 2023 that India and the US are talking about joint production of armoured personnel carriers. As ThePrint reported in August 2023, American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin is one of the contenders for the Indian Air Force’s mega contract for medium transport aircraft. The C-130J, which is already with the IAF, is one of the contenders along with the Airbus A400M and Embraer’s C-390.
The additional reconnaissance aircraft that the defence secretary has spoken about is the P-8I. The Indian Navy already operates a fleet of 12 P-8I aircraft and talks are on for an additional six more.
While Washington and Paris are in play, eyes are also focused on Moscow, which is keen to ramp up its defence ties with India.
Russia has brought a large delegation to India, and the cherry on the cake for them is the fifth-generation fighter aircraft Su-57, which made its debut here. The Russians are offering joint production of the Su-57, which India had walked out from in 2018 with caveats of possibly joining later. Russian sources told ThePrint they were very keen to collaborate with India. They said the Su-57 was available to India for co-production.
The Russians have also offered to help develop India’s own stealth fighter.
However, besides this, the Russians are offering a plethora of projects to India to collaborate on—from missiles to aero engines, fighter aircraft and helicopters.
Given the strategic nature of bilateral defence ties, Russia has, in the past, managed to swing deals in their favour, like the AK-203 or the construction of two frigates, even though Indian companies and shipyards have the capability.
Another key project that would see Russia, the US and France in the race is that of the aero engines. Russia is the latest to join the fray and is showcasing their new fifth-generation fighter aircraft engine at the Aero India.
While India has gone in for the GE F-404 engines for the Tejas Mk1A, it is in talks for the GE F414 engines for the Tejas Mk2.
The US is offering technology transfer and production in India of the GE 414 and is looking at India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
France is also eyeing the same programme, and its company Safran is willing to co-design, co-develop and co-manufacture the engines in India. Along with them, British firm Rolls-Royce is also looking at developing aero engines with India.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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