The coming years will test India’s defence industry like never before. Success will depend on collaboration between DRDO, ADA, HAL, private firms, and international partners.
As per the timeline decided, 5 prototypes of India’s own fifth-generation fighter are set to be rolled out by 2031, with the first by 2028 using the GE 414 engine.
India spends heavily on defence but does not finance it. That distinction separates mature defence-industrial economies from those trapped in yearly budget cycles.
India’s fighter aircraft strength will be down to 31 squadrons by the end of the year, down from 42. It will further reduce when Mirage 2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar squadrons are phased out.
India has paid a steep price for HAL’s unchecked dominance, evident in the MiG-era overhauls, the decades-long Tejas saga, and the troubled ALH programme.
With AMCA rollout expected to take a decade, Defence Secretary Rajesh Singh confirms talks for fifth-gen jets amid reports of Pakistan acquiring Chinese stealth fighters.
EOI was marked a historic shift in defence procurement & industrial participation policy since this meant that HAL will have to bid along with private firms to bag the contract.
In the latest episode of ThePrint’s ‘Off The Cuff’, former air force chief VR Chaudhari spoke at length about Operation Sindoor and its impact on the IAF’s future.
IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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