Besides the qualitative quantum jump to IAF, the MMRCA deal has the potential of not just rejuvenating the indigenous aircraft carrier programme in real terms, but it even offers multiple options for multi-role carrier borne fighters for the Indian Navy

The much awaited ‘mother of all deals’, the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) has entered the final phase. According to the Chief of the air Staff, air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, the contract for supplying 126 MMRCA fighters to the IAF will be signed soon. All leading global combat aircraft manufacturers await the outcome of the deal with bated breath. For the first time there was an overwhelming global response and the deal has remained the most speculative topic of discussion for nearly a decade. India’s emerging position in the world strongly steered by a consistent nine per cent economic growth, places India at a pedestal where high-end frontline technologies are willingly offered for the asking by hitherto reluctant sources. Several global players are running head over heels to participate in the modernisation plans of India’s defence forces. In the prevailing environment, it is a foregone conclusion that the IAF would settle for nothing less than the top-end technology-intensive multi-role combat aircraft. Undoubtedly, the MMRCA promises to be the mainstay for the future of IAF and has the potential to emerge as a game changer.

The additional benefit that the deal promises to the indigenous aviation industry is the transfer of top-end frontline technology that would be relevant for at least the next three decades and beyond. Besides the performance and cost, crucial issues like access to technology, technology transfer, life-cycle support through reliable spares and maintenance, product support, etc will be decisive factors in finalising the deal. Thus, if it is called ‘the mother of all deals’, it is not just for its commercial facet, but for the enriching accompaniments which will benefit the indigenous defence industrial complex on a long-term perspective. Reportedly, the first 18 aircraft will be acquired directly from the manufacturer and the remaining fighters will be built under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru under the provision of transfer of technology (ToT).

This multibillion-dollar deal will be the biggest ever since the 1990s, in which global fighters, namely Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Super viper, Eurofighter’s Typhoon, Russian united aircraft Corporation’s Mikoyan MiG-35, France’s Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, Swedish SAAB’s Gripen and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet have participated. Out of these contenders, Russia’s Mikoyan and France’s Dassault have been the regular suppliers of aircraft to the IAF. Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, the Eurofighter’s Typhoon and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet are all twin-engine fighters and reportedly very expensive. The MiG-35 is also a twin-engine aircraft, however its price not known.

Indian Navy Perspective

How does the MMRCA deal impinge the indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) programme for the Indian Navy? This is the big question which needs serious consideration of the decision-makers at this crucial juncture. According to former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash, “The easiest option would be to make IAC-2 a replica of IAC-1. This would imply that the second carrier’s air group would consist of the MiG-29K and perhaps LCA (Navy), with an option to operate the F-35(B) Lightning II, at a later date, if it is available.” he further adds, “Interestingly, the ongoing competition for selection of the IAF multi-role combat aircraft appears to have thrown up four potential candidates for the Indian Navy too. Of these, the Boeing F/A-18 Super hornet and the Dassault Aviation’s Rafale both have naval versions that operate in the catapult assisted take-off but arrested landing mode. if the IAF does select one of these candidates there might be some pressure for the Indian Navy to consider the same aircraft for IAC-2.” if the Fleet Air Arm of the Indian Navy was to be given teeth in true sense that it deserves, there would be no gain in adopting a replica of IAC-1 for IAC-2. In fact it may well prove to be a regressive step and the Indian Navy would only be chasing technologies.

According to Air Marshal (Retd) Philip Rajkumar, who set up the National Flight Test Centre and was subsequently the Director, Aeronautics Development Authority (ADA), the naval LCA (Navy) programme is a very interesting one because it is for the first time that India was attempting to develop a carrier-borne fighter. He, however, cautions that the challenges in flight testing and introducing the aircraft into service will be many, namely the modification of the fly-by-wire flight control system’s control law to cater to the ski jump take-off and arrested landing on the deck, setting up the Shore Based Test Facility and its validation before the commencement of the naval LCA’s flight tests. The biggest managerial challenge will be the human resource problem because qualified personnel, who provide the all-important continuity to the test programme in the future, are hard to come by.