In its report tabled in the Parliament on December 20, 2023, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence recommended that the government should consider buying fifth-generation fighter aircraft 'over the counter' without losing time if the multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) project is getting delayed.

In 2008, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had allocated 55,000 crore ($6.9 billion at then prices) for 126 MMRCA for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The tender aimed to fill the gap between the' futuristic' Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI held on the IAF inventory. After intensive trial evaluation of six bidders, the IAF reduced the contest to two out of the six bidders in April 2011 - Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale. On January 31, 2012, Dassault Rafale was declared winner due to its lower "life-cycle cost".

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence recommends considering 'over the counter' purchase of fifth-generation fighter aircraft if delays persist in the multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) project

But the deal stalled because Dassault refused to take responsibility for the 108 x Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) manufactured Rafales citing reservations about HAL's ability to accommodate the complex manufacturing and technology transfers of the aircraft. In May 2013, the media reported negotiations for the first 18 Rafales to be delivered in 2017. Dassault was to reinvest 50 per cent of the deal's earnings into India's defence sector. In March 2014, the two sides were reported to have agreed first 18 Rafales to be delivered in flying condition and balance 108 to be built by HAL but on April 13, 2015, then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced that the MMRCA tender was "effectively dead".

Subsequently, during his visit to France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will purchase 36 Rafales, This contract totaled $8.8 billion costing $244 million for each aircraft, with an offset of 30 per cent of the deal's value for France to reinvest in India's defence sector.

India is now looking into the procurement of the naval version of the Rafale for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers. The government wants commonalities between logistics and spares for fighters with the Navy and Air Force, which could lead to a purchase of 54 naval versions of the Rafale fighters – Rafale (N).

Procurement challenges for the 114 MRFA competition include the potential drawbacks of the US and European offers, favoring the Dassault Rafale due to its successful MMRCA trials and commonality benefits across the IAF and Indian Navy

In April 2019, the IAF issued a request for information (RFI) to acquire 114 MRFA at a cost of around $18 billion, billed as one of the world's biggest military procurement programs in recent years. In the race are eight competitors viz Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Boeing F-15EX Eagle, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-21 (variant of F-16V customised for Indian requirements), Mikoyan MiG-35, Saab JAS039 Gripen and the Sukhoi Su-35.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence report tabled in the Parliament on December 20, 2023 has cited delays in the supply of the initial 40 LCA to the IAF as well as the Kaveri jet engine project, and said the option of buying state-of-the-art fifth-generation fighter aircraft over the counter should be explored. The project Kaveri, under which India plans to develop an indigenous fighter jet engine, has witnessed considerable delays. The panel report says, "The committee finds that there has been a considerable delay in the supply of 40 LCA from HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) to the IAF and as on date, 38 aircraft have reached the Air Force. The case of procurement of 114 multi-role fighter aircraft, in advanced stage; in case it also goes the TEJAS or Kaveri ways, the government should consider buying state-of-the-art fifth generation fighter aircraft over the counter, without losing time to keep the force in a comfortable position."

Russia's offer for trilateral co-production of Su-57E with India and the UAE presents an alternative, raising questions about India's ability to secure a 'Make in India' deal with complete technology transfer

The government response to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence is that the IAF plans to induct the MRFA in a phased manner and that the case is being progressed under the Make in India provisions of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020. The shortage in the number of fighter squadrons in the IAF is being addressed through multi-pronged approaches to ensure that this is realised within time, budget and under the Make-in-India initiative.

The government told the panel that the IAF currently has 31 fighter aircraft squadrons against the authorised strength of 42. The written response reads, "Though the IAF faces a challenge with respect to the draw-down of its number of fighter squadrons, it is at present fully capable of defending the nation. The IAF has strived to arrest the draw-down of its fighter fleet and is currently in the process of gradually building it up. The shortage in the number of fighter squadrons is being addressed through multi-pronged approaches to ensure that this is realised within time, budget and under the 'Make-in-India' initiative."

Hopefully, the procurement of 114 MRFA will be progressed at a fast pace with the least amount of red tape. Though the government has said that IAF presently has 31 fighter squadrons against the authorised strength of 42, the last of the two MiG 21 squadrons are on the way out and the upgrade of Sukhoi squadrons is a forced arrangement. As of now, the MRFA competition points in favour of the Dassault Rafale because the US and European offers need to be viewed in the backdrop of America's history of befriending nations and then dumping them.

The Russian Su-35 may have problems with the continuing war in Ukraine. Moreover, Dassault Rafale has won the MMRCA trials, the IAF already has the Rafale and the Indian Navy is in the process of acquiring the Rafale (N) – all of which has the benefits of commonality of weapon platforms. However, the question remains whether Dassault will be comfortable with the 'Make in India; given its earlier reservations about HAL's ability to accommodate the complex manufacturing and technology transfers of the Rafale aircraft.

Meanwhile, an interesting development has happened, in that the UAE has suspended its $23 billion deal with the US for procuring 50 x F-35 fighter jets and Russia's Su-57E with advanced stealth technology has emerged strong contender for the UAE. Following this, Russia's Rosoboronexport has offered trilateral co-production of the Su-57E fighter jets with India and the UAE, with part production in Russia, India and the UAE. The offer has merit in India not putting most eggs in the French basket. But the question remains how much India can swing the deal under 'Make in India' with complete transfer of technology.

Finally, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari has said it would take another 10 years for the IAF to reach 35 squadrons, does government understand the need for urgency?