Reuters
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Indian Defense Minister has approved a framework for building the country’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, the Ministry of Defense said Tuesday in a new arms race with Pakistan weeks after the military conflict between neighbors.
The Indian national aviation development agency running the programme will soon invite early interest from defense companies to develop a prototype of the fighter jet, which is supposed to be the fifth generation fighter of the twin engines, the ministry said.
This project is very important for the Indian Air Force, where a squadron of mainly Russian and former Soviet aircraft reduced from 42 approved strength to 31 when rival China was rapidly expanding its air force. Pakistan has the J-10, one of China’s most advanced fighter jets, Arsenal.
The army of nuclear-armed neighbors in India and Pakistan faced in four days of battle this month. This saw fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery used by both sides before the ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump.
It was the first time a South Asian powerhouse has been trapped in a drone arm race, with both sides using drones on a scale, according to interviews with 15 people, including security officers, industry executives and analysts from both countries.
India will partner with domestic companies in the stealth fighter program, and companies can bid independently or as joint ventures, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement, adding that bids will be open to both private and state-owned businesses.
In March, the Indian Defense Committee recommended the inclusion of the civilian sector in military aircraft production to enhance the capacity of the Indian Air Force and reduce the burden on state-owned Hindustan Airlines Co., Ltd.
Aviation Director Amar Preet Singh has previously criticised Tejas Airlines’ slow Hindustan Airlines, a 4.5-generation fighter jet that denounced the slow delivery of engines from General Electric GE.N due to supply chain issues facing US companies.
