Ex-IAF vice-chief says 4.5-gen Tejas may not have relevance in 2030s

Former Indian Air Force (IAF) Vice Chief, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor (Retd), has expressed concerns over the prolonged delay in the delivery of the 4.5-gen Tejas fighter jet to the Indian Air Force (IAF). In an interview with NDTV, Kapoor questioned the ongoing lack of the promised aircraft, citing delays due to various factors such as late supply of F404-IN20 engines from GE, complex mission software validation, and stringent operational requirements set by the IAF.

Kapoor firmly believes that the advanced Tejas Mk-2 will not have relevance operationally by the mid-2030s, when China is projected to deploy a significant number of its 5th-generation fighter jets. With China's intentions apparent, India is still struggling to deliver the first squadron of the 4.5-gen Tejas Mk1A. HAL aims to deliver the initial 18-25 Tejas Mk1A jets by March 2027, but Kapoor does not entirely dismiss the role of Tejas Mk2 in the future, asserting that gaps in coverage will eventually require the deployment of this class of aircraft.

The former vice-chief expressed his desire for India to acquire advanced 5th-gen AMCA aircraft and the F-35, urging faster development. When discussing Russia's 5th-gen Su-57, Kapoor noted that while the Russian fighter matches western jets in basic features, it falls short in avionics and stealth technology. He further suggested that India should collaborate with an European consortium working on the state-of-the-art sixth-generation platforms, such as the European FCAS or the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

Kapoor believes that joining these collaborative efforts would help India avoid redundant steps in generations 4 and 4.5, and instead focus on the latest technological advancements.