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India’s approval of its indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet programme is not just a defence development; it is a political and strategic declaration of intent.
India’s approval of its indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet programme is not just a defence development; it is a political and strategic declaration of intent. At a time when the
subcontinent has emerged from a brief but sharp military conflict between India and Pakistan ~ marked by high-intensity drone warfare and the deployment of long-range strike capabilities ~
Delhi’s decision to fast-track next-generation air power is timely, necessary, and overdue.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has long operated under the burden of an ageing fleet. Despite incremental progress, the force has struggled to maintain sanctioned squadron strength. In contrast,
regional adversaries have shown no such inertia. China’s aggressive expansion of air and missile capabilities and Pakistan’s swift induction of Chinese-origin J10 fighters have upended
whatever parity may have once existed. India, the only one of the three powers with a track record of aircraft R&D and a substantial aerospace base, must now finally act like it. What makes
this stealth fighter programme different is the decision to invite private players to compete or collaborate in the prototype phase itself. For decades, India’s aerospace manufactu – ring
has been dominated by public sector monopolies, leading to chronic delays, quality issues, and a lack of urgency.