Indian Air Force to get a ‘Make in India’ boost in its fifth-gen jets

NEW DELHI: Giving a major push to the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the Indian Air Force said it will not go ahead with its plan to import the fifth generation fighter aircraft and also declared that it will induct the indigenously developed Astra missile system. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said, “There are no plans for a foreign FGFA now or in the foreseeable future.”

“The FGFA for the IAF will be the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), for which work has already started.” India and Russia were jointly working on Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft project since 2007. While India continues to be one of the top importers of Defence equipment Indian Air Chief has expressed to overturn this trend. “The IAF remains committed to indigenous development in consonance with the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” Bhadauria said.