IAF may finalise 114-jet MRFA deal this financial year

India may finalise the much-awaited Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal by the end of the current financial year if things proceed as planned, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Saturday.

India in February cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government framework with France. The deal is part of the country’s largest-ever defence acquisition push and comes nearly two decades after the plan was originally rolled out to strengthen the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities.

Price negotiations and other critical issues related to the project are currently underway.

Addressing a press conference ahead of Air Force Day, Air Chief Marshal Singh also said the Indian Air Force may have to consider procuring another platform if the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme faces delays.

“Russia has offered us Su-57 jets, but no decision has been made on it,” he said.

On the declining strength of fighter squadrons, Singh said the Indian Air Force needs at least 36 to 40 aircraft annually over the next few years.

He said air power remains crucial in the context of overall military strength and that India needs to further increase its air power.

On modernising the Indian Air Force, he said the force needs to be augmented through artificial intelligence.

“We have to have an AI-augmented force,” he said.

Singh also said self-reliance is crucial for overall combat readiness.

The Chief of Air Staff further underlined the need for India to produce a fighter jet engine domestically.