Indian Air Force considers foreign 5th-gen jets amid Pakistan's advancements

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has stated that India may seek alternative foreign fifth-generation fighter options if delays persist in the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. This strategic shift is prompted by reports of Pakistan moving toward fifth-generation fighter capabilities, a development the Air Chief described as a “matter of cause for worry.”

To arrest the decline in its combat fleet, the IAF aims to induct approximately 36 to 40 fighter aircraft annually. The Chief indicated that the long-pending Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme could potentially be finalized within the current financial year, provided negotiations proceed as planned. While Russia has offered the Su-57 to India, no formal decision has been made.

Regarding unmanned systems, Air Chief Marshal Singh noted that while drones and loitering munitions are evolutionary rather than revolutionary, they should be integrated into existing military setups rather than forming a separate drone force.