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Tejas mk2 prototype by 2027Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft prototype expected by 2028-29
As the project for the design and development of the indigenous fifth generation fighter aircraft, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, makes progress, the Defence Ministry is working out a model for bringing in the private sector in a big way, which is important for timely execution of the project...www.thehindu.com
The private sector was invited to participate in AMCA production a few years ago but expressed no interest. Having not participated in assembling Tejas/Tejas Mk1A, the private sector has no experience in assembling fighters.
Some possible reasons why the private sector is not interested in MRCA come to mind:Tata, Ambani, etc during MRCA days were very interested in bagging the F-16, F-18, Rafale deal.
What happened to them now with AMCA?
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But like i said, they were ready for assembling F-16, F-18, Rafale with training from USA & France ofcourse. Similarly HAL can train them with LCA & SU-30MKI.Some possible reasons why the private sector is not interested in MRCA come to mind:
- no experience of assembling 4G fighters
If they don't have experience in assembly then their capability to design is also years away.- dislike of the SPV model proposed
MBA grads are highly paid to figure out these things. In the WEST, some DoD guys also attend B-schools in person or online. IDK how it happens here.- investment required in studying and negotiating the proposal (possibly with no resulting contract)
- uncertainty regarding cost needed to set up an assembly plant
- uncertainty regarding staffing and training cost
How is a company supposed to accurately cost assembling AMCA given the above?
Sometimes, i get to watch interviews by journalists of NDTV, Sansad TV, Tarmak Media House, etc like Nitin Gokhale, Vishnu Som, Shiv Aroor, etc & Youtubers. As per those, DoD/GoI wants private sector to lead assembly process in DoD supervision.If GOI wanted to establish an advanced military aviation industrial sector it should have nurtured a non-state owned company in parallel to HAL in my opinion. Had it done that, it might have received more interest in assembling AMCA from the private sector
So aren't we going to procude a JV engine with Rolls-Royce or Safran for AMCA? news reports that Kaveri R&D has again started to make it better.Modi and Russian Su-57 stealth fighter
Modi is going to Russia. One item on his upcoming visit agenda is discussions on new improved Su-57 (Russian Stealth fighter). Its tandem version is also now available with newer more powerful engine.
The Indian AMCA can proceed. What India does not have is technology and engine of our own to build. Hence it becomes a time consuming effort which will take a long time to evolve and become a laughing stock for boys on this website who always complain about delays and delays.
The alternatives are, steal technology like the Chinese do and get away or develop your own. The latter takes long time. Hence, it is to buy stealth fighter of better capability, since westerners are not selling it to India. In the meantime if Chinese bring two squadrons of their stealth fighter to Tibet and alternatively give two squadrons to Pakistan for free then Indian goose is cooked.
Hence, find out if Russians will part with technology and 40 or 50 of their SU-57 to India in place of MRFA then India is in a better position. In the meantime AMCA could proceed for future with no rush.
Is it possible guys…..?
Until AMCA arrives, Super-Sukhoi upgrade & Rafale have to handle the borders & they have already been deployed & key airbases.IAF lacks a 5G fighter. 3 countries make them. Buying from China is out of the question, which leaves US and Russia as possible suppliers. For political reasons operating F-35 is much riskier than Su-57, so why not buy Su-57? As you say, it takes the pressure off getting AMCA developed and into production ASAP.
I note, however, that 4 years after receiving its first Su-75 the Russian air force has a very small number (less than 20?) which makes me wonder how fast they can be made.
If F-35 and Su-75 are too risky, there is always KF-21 to plug the gap for India until AMCA arrives. It is not expensive but probably better than Rafale, Eurofighter etc.
Just a comparison of the F-35's wind tunnel model and the AMCA's Wind Tunnel model (which was showcased in 2022).
AMCA.
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F-35.
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