Pakistan and China’s diplomatic brotherhood is once again in focus. And this time Pakistan has put forward an order of its JF-17 'Thunder' fighter. The lethal fighter jet might give the Indian Air Force (IAF) a bit of nightmare, given India's home-grown light combat aircraft Tejas will take another year to become fully combat-ready, confirms a news report by The Economic Times.
Tejas has been a much delayed project for IAF since many years. Tejas Mark-II, with a more powerful engine, is likely to need a strong infusion of foreign collaboration if the first prototype has to take to the skies by 2018-19 as per already much-revised deadlines, informs the ET report.
"Tejas Mark-II is still on the drawing board, with only the preliminary design review being completed till now. The critical design review is far off," a source told the ET.
This has become a cause of major concern, since IAF is down to just 35 fighter squadrons, when at least 44 are needed to handle a "collusive threat" from Pakistan and China. Moreover, only half of the fighters in the 35 squadrons are operationally available at any given point of time due to obsolescence, poor serviceability and maintenance.
Even if the ongoing commercial negotiation to directly acquire 36 expensive twin-engine Rafale fighters - IAF is pushing for double that number – has been sealed within a month, it will take well over two years for the deliveries of the French jets to begin.
With older MiG-21s and MiG-27s being progressively retired, the single-engine Tejas is needed fast to make up for the fall in numbers. But it will get the final operational clearance (FOC) only by mid-2016 now, missing the revised December 2015 deadline set for it earlier. The FOC basically implies the jet is now capable of firing guns, rockets, laser-guided bombs and BVR (beyond visual range) missiles as well as undergo mid-air refuelling.
IAF, DRDO and Aeronautical Development Agency are now getting set to seek the Cabinet Committee on Security's approval for the initial design and development phase for AMCA. The plan is to conduct the first flight of the twin-engine AMCA, with advanced stealth, super-cruise capability, super-maneuverability and multi-sensor integration, by 2023-2024, as was earlier reported by TOI.
While Pakistan is almost everyday violating the ceasefire and even the day of Eid marked a violent exchange of bullets, the delay in procurement of high profile fighter jet remaining in question is a serious concern.
(Image: Reuters)