'Make in India' dream of fighter plans hit a roadblock

Indian Air Force’s (AIF) plan to replace MIG fighter planes with a 'Made in India' combat aircraft isn’t headed towards the right direction. Now IAF need to choose between two aircrafts from Sweden or the US.

IAF's communication to the US and Sweden earlier this month said the force was looking for a modern, proven single-engine fighter aircraft in operational service. IAF didn't offer any details of minimum performance levels, asking only for a "4th generation fighter" - a broad qualification that also fits India's long-under-development light combat aircraft (LCA), according to a news report by The Economic Times.

Industry experts, ET spoke to said, IAF's approach so far can get the force into a single vendor situation and, therefore, a recipe for slowdown in decision-making. A single vendor situation often leads to questions over fairness in the selection process. The aim is to make a choice from a multiple vendor situation.

The defence ministry would also require to move ahead with its strategic partnership model if the ‘Make in India’ plan for fighter planes need to be executed.