IAF chief says India to have fifth-generation jets in 2018

[Justin Joseph]

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IAF chief says India to have fifth-generation jets in 2018

By Bappa Majumdar

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will introduce an advanced fighter jet it is building with Russia in 2018, a move that will bring sophistication to its air power but could also spark unease among neighbours China and Pakistan.

New Delhi has watched warily as China has made rapid strides in defence, worried that Beijing's long-term strategy for the region could involve encircling India.

Indian military commanders have stressed greater firepower as a counter-measure, particularly for the air force. The fifth generation fighter aircraft joint project with Russia is part of that strategy.

"The fifth generation aircraft would possess technologies which would provide it (India) the edge over adversaries in future air warfare," P.V. Naik, the Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), said in a written statement sent to Reuters.

"China is rapidly modernising its air force ... On our part, the IAF is reviewing its tactics regularly to increase its combat potential," Naik said.

India's plans to bolster its air force include upgrading more than 50 airbases along the Chinese and Pakistan border, he said.

Traditionally, any move by India to acquire new weaponry has been met with similar moves by Pakistan, putting already fragile regional security under further strain.

The fifth-generation fighters, billed as a competitor to the U.S. F-22 Raptor, can fool sophisticated radars and will be able to take off from short airstrips and remain in the air for longer than the current fighters, air force officials say.

India's air force says it has more than 800 active combat aircraft but is dwarfed by China's, which has more than 2,000 fighter aircraft.

Arms procurement is a painfully slow process in India because of red tape and charges of corruption in winning tenders.

India plans to procure at least 200 of the fifth-generation fighters, each valued at $100 million, in a deal which analysts say is watched with unease by neighbours Pakistan and China.

India is looking to spend more than $50 billion over the next five years to modernise its largely Soviet-era weapons systems.

The governments of Russia and India have already signed the deal for the advanced jet, although the two companies that will build them have not. Officials say that is just a formality and will be completed this year.

Production of the stealth jet fighter is a 50-50 joint venture between Russia and India's state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will build a mission computer, cockpit displays and other navigation systems.

India is also buying 126 multi-role fighters and will pare down the number of bidders for the $11 billion deal by June or July, Naik said [ID:nSGE61H074]. That contract is one of the world's biggest arms deals.

IAF chief says India to have fifth-generation jets in 2018 | Top News | Reuters

[faithfulguy]

If its PAKFA, it will not be ready by 2025. The only way India can get any 5th generation fighter by 2018 is to get some F-35.

[mohit]

If its PAKFA, it will not be ready by 2025. The only way India can get any 5th generation fighter by 2018 is to get some F-35.

Source please?

[duhastmish]

great if thats the aim india will be first in asia to have a fith gen fighter,

as per plan till now nobody is gettign a fifth gen fighter , but yeh chinese can pull it off, with in 2030 - 2040. ( if they can get ome hand on blue plans of russian indian jets)

[Justin Joseph]

If its PAKFA, it will not be ready by 2025. The only way India can get any 5th generation fighter by 2018 is to get some F-35.

So are U claiming to be bigger expert than Indian Air Chief????????

or

You have more insight knowledge than Air Chief?????????

There is no need to troll or derail the thread.

The news is straight from the horses mouth.

[xuxu1457]

So are U claiming to be bigger expert than Indian Air Chief????????

or

You have more insight knowledge than Air Chief?????????

There is no need to troll or derail the thread.

The news is straight from the horses mouth.

Indian Air Chief is famous for his big mouth,may be he will have a UFO in 3018

[Mirza Jatt]

In this forum only I heard in one of the thread that China is already building a fifth gen fighter based on the F22.

Anyways if India can really get these fifth gen fighters on the said time (2018),then India will clearly lead the region in terms if quality aircrafts if not in numbers because by around that time IAF will also have the PAKFA ready.

[AVIAN]

I doubt IAF can afford Stealth assets in its inventory at mere $100 million and that's even in 2018 which is very unlikely economic projection as far as ever rising inflation in Global market is concerned. At the same time, by 2018, Russia may not be only source for its Fifth Generation needs, even ever growing relationship with US will fructify fifth generation supply of jets from US to India, as India sees US as major supplier of ultra modern weapon through collabrative methods.

[Justin Joseph]

Indian Air Chief is famous for his big mouth,may be he will have a UFO in 3018

and what chinese are famous for we already knows that, don't post off topic troll

[deckingraj]

Indian Air Chief is famous for his big mouth,may be he will have a UFO in 3018

Unfortunately our Air Chief is not as humble as you are...So sorry for that...

[xMustiiej70]

I don't believe this at all.

There are a couple 5th generation fighters coming.
And India is building there own with Russia?
Russia has already full agenda.
They are even and they did canceled some big projects.

And I dont think that india can succesfully build something like this.
and by 2018?
Alright this thread or this indian chief is a joke.

[ramu]

I don't believe this at all.

There are a couple 5th generation fighters coming.
And India is building there own with Russia?
Russia has already full agenda.
They are even and they did canceled some big projects.

And I dont think that india can succesfully build something like this.
and by 2018?
Alright this thread or this indian chief is a joke.

Have you heard of PAK FA ?

[MZUBAIR]

Only F35 is coming till 2018, and nither its offered to India nor IAF plan to buy it. F22 is not for sale.
No russian 5th gene is coming b4 2020.
India is not independenly able to build any AC. Then Y such foolish news without any reliable source

[mohit]

Only F35 is coming till 2018, and nither its offered to India nor IAF plan to buy it. F22 is not for sale.
No russian 5th gene is coming b4 2020.
India is not independenly able to build any AC. Then Y such foolish news without any reliable source

And your reliable source of this information is?

[Peshwa]

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If its PAKFA, it will not be ready by 2025. The only way India can get any 5th generation fighter by 2018 is to get some F-35.

Its 2010....and the first Prototype is in the air.....I think this is largely public knowledge....several threads exist on PDF already...

Please provide your rationale as to why it would take 15 years to procure the first aircraft......