Powerful India ... Vinit Vartak ©

 Powerful India ... Vinit Vartak ©

For the last 3 years, the clouds of war have been gathering on the border of India. Pakistan on the one hand and China on the other have shifted their focus towards India. In a situation called the Two Front War. India is going through that situation. Even if there is no actual war, the war situation is the same for the army and the defense systems of the country. At such a time, India has taken rapid steps in the last few years to secure India on both sides. India needed to make rapid changes in its air force to counter a formidable enemy like China. As part of this, India signed an agreement with France for 36 Rafale aircraft and added them to the Indian Air Force.

With the advent of Rafael, China's mathematics has completely changed. According to a report by Chinese defense experts, China will need three fighter jets to counter India's Rafael. These three aircraft require a fifth generation J-20 stealth fighter jet and two other fourth generation fighter jets. This means that with the arrival of Rafael, India has made China 1: 3. That is why China, which is just on the border today, has not dared to move forward. But this math is temporarily on India's side. The declining strength of the Indian Air Force is, of course, a matter of concern for India. Although India has repeatedly called for tenders for the purchase of fighter jets from the international market to strengthen the Indian Air Force, no agreement has been reached in the last eight years due to various reasons. But at the same time, the strength of the air force is declining.

After the production of Tejas MK1, India joined AMCA. (The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) and T.B. D. F. Although ambitious projects like (Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter) as well as Tejas have started working on MK2 version, in reality, these things are likely to dawn by 2030 to add to India's defense readiness. At such a time, the Indian Air Force and Navy will not be able to protect India from the rapidly declining number of aircraft. That is why India has once again taken steps to procure fighter jets from another country. Significant agreements are likely to be reached by the end of this year.

The Indian Air Force has invited tenders for the purchase of 114 aircraft. India is expected to spend about 30 billion USD on it. But it is impossible to buy 114 aircraft at such a price with the terms of their technology transfer and manufacturing in India. If we spend more money on these aircraft, then India's ambitious projects will have to be slashed. That is why the number of fighter jets is likely to be halved to almost half by combining India's need and future self-reliant India. Of these, 18 aircraft are in ready condition and 36 aircraft will be manufactured in India. The agreement is considered a real competition between the two aircraft.

It is almost certain that one of the US F15 EX and France's Rafael will win. The Rafael F4 version is at the forefront. India has already purchased the Rafael aircraft. Therefore, arrangements for those aircraft are already in place in India. France is ready to accept many conditions of India. With this, Rafael is one step ahead of the American aircraft. Therefore, in the next few months, there is a strong possibility of an agreement between India and France for the purchase of 54 Rafael. India's second aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will join the Indian Navy on August 15, 2022. For that, the Indian Navy needs STOBAR ("short take-off but arrested recovery") type aircraft. The Indian Navy is not satisfied with the technology of the MiG-29 on INS Vikramaditya. That is why the Indian Navy has turned its attention to one of the two, the Rafael M and the Super Hornet F18 for INS Vikrant.

Tests for both aircraft are almost complete for INS Vikrant. It shows America's F18 Super Hornet ahead of Rafael M. India will buy 26 fighter jets for the navy in the coming months. At the same time, by signing an agreement with both the United States and France, India will be able to reach a political settlement through this agreement. It is now clear that India will also buy Chinook and Apache its helicopters from the US. Both the helicopters are already part of the Indian Army and the India is said to be very satisfied with their efficiency. In particular, Chinook helicopters, during the Indo-China conflict, easily delivered cannons like Howitzer to India's battlefield at high altitudes. Which, of course, made the China to change there positions. For this, the Indian Air Force has demanded Chinook and Apache helicopters.

Overall, these three agreements, which are crucial to India's defense, are coming to an end in the coming months, which will add a huge boost to India's defense readiness. This will enable India to be one step ahead of the enemy on both fronts by 2030 and beyond until the ambitious project of a self-reliant India is completed. Good luck with this agreement as soon as possible.

Jai Hind !!!

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