The US must treat India as an equal partner on the world stage and not merely a lucrative market for weapon systems and outdated technologies

The multi-billion dollar deals concluded at the Paris Air Show in June this year involving hundreds of airliners sent spirits soaring amongst the leading global aerospace majors. However, there was a flurry of excitement in some quarters when Michael Rein, Director Communications, Lockheed Martin’s F35 programme disclosed to the media that his company was prepared to offer the F-35 joint strike fighter for the $11 billion ( Rs 50,000 crore) 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender for the Indian Air Force (IAF) subject to clearance by the US government.

The offer of F-35 to India is nothing new as in response to a tender by the Indian Ministry of Defence in November last year for up to 40 aircraft, Lockheed Martin was contemplating offer of the F-35C, the carrier based version. While nothing further has been heard of the offer to the Indian Navy; the implications and connotations of the offer of the F-35 for the MMRCA tender warrants scrutiny. The initial reaction which was not unexpected is that perhaps the offer comes a bit too late as the MMRCA deal is close to finalisation and entry of another aircraft into the race at this stage would not be practicable. A move by the government in favour of entry of the F-35 into the MMRCA tendering process at this stage would not stand scrutiny in any court of law. Also, given the deluge of financial scams, the Indian Government could well be confronted with yet another accusation of financial irregularity and subversion of the tendering process either to serve vested interests or under pressure by the US Government. The ensuing controversy that would inevitably acquire strong political overtones could even jeopardise the MMRCA contract itself.

Objectively speaking, the F-35 is a fifth generation aircraft under development whereas the contenders in the MMRCA race were all of vintage earlier than fifth generation. Besides as per the request for proposal (RFP), the contending aircraft “must be in operational service”, a condition the F-35 does not fulfil. Also, the F-35 being considerably more expensive as compared with the two European combat aircraft shortlisted, the capital outlay would consequently be much higher than the currently estimated $11 billion seriously impinging on affordability. Besides, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has already entered into partnership with Sukhoi of Russia for the development of the two seat version of the T50 for the IAF, designated as Indo-Russian fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA). The T50 is already in an advanced stage of its developmental test flight programme in Russia. Sizeable funds have already been invested by the Indian Government and more committed. If at all, the F-35 could compete with the FGFA which would be manufactured by HAL and is expected to be inducted into the IAF before the end of the current decade.