India has no plans as of now to either join the US-led joint strike fighter (JSF) programme or buy the F-35 `Lightning-II' fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) when it finally becomes operational.
"We cannot have two types of FGFA. We have already launched preliminary work for our FGFA after inking the $295 million preliminary design contract (PDC) with Russia last month,'' said a top defence ministry official on Friday.
This comes in the wake of comments made by a top Pentagon official, undersecretary of defence for acquisition, technology and logistics Ashton Carter, in Washington that the US was open to Indian participation in its JSF project.
"We cannot have two types of FGFA. We have already launched preliminary work for our FGFA after inking the $295 million preliminary design contract (PDC) with Russia last month,'' said a top defence ministry official on Friday.
This comes in the wake of comments made by a top Pentagon official, undersecretary of defence for acquisition, technology and logistics Ashton Carter, in Washington that the US was open to Indian participation in its JSF project.
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This is a good decision by the IAF. The F-35 has an array of design faults and it is proving to be quite expensive. The project that India has embarked on with Russia appears to bear fruit and I am looking forward to the new FGFA. It may be a good idea to look at a proven twin engine design to full fill interim needs. The various different types of aircraft will also pose a logistic and support challenge.
ReplyDeleteOne day, in the future, India should be able to develop and field its own FGFA.