News India Live, Digital Desk: For some time now, only one question has been resonating the most in the Indian defense sector, after all, why is the Indian Air Force (IAF) leaving the world’s most modern stealth fighters like the American F-35 or the Russian Sukhoi-57 (Su-57), and again leaning towards the French Rafale? Often when we talk about fighter jets, we think that the ship which is not visible on the radar (stealth), is the best. This seems right on paper, but the reality of the battlefield and the strategic needs of the country indicate something else. Let us understand in simple language why this decision of India has been taken keeping China in mind and what is the smart strategy behind it.1. A “known friend” is better than a new stranger. India already has 36 Rafales, which are deployed at Ambala and Hashimara airbases. Indian pilots know every inch of these aircraft. If India were to buy a brand new aircraft like the American F-35, the entire training, maintenance and infrastructure would have to be started from scratch. Choosing Rafale again means ease in logistics. That is, having the same type of aircraft makes it cheaper and easier to repair them and arrange for spare parts. It is better for the Air Force to have strong horses of the same breed than to rear different types of ‘elephants’.2. Control over technology: America’s terms versus France’s trust This is a big reason which people often ignore. American weapons are the best, there is no doubt about that, but they come with a lot of conditions. Buying F-35 would have meant that India’s data link would have remained connected to American servers. In simple language, America would have been aware of when and where we were flying our own plane. A self-respecting country like India cannot compromise on its strategic autonomy. At the same time, India’s relationship with France is such that they provide technology, but India has complete freedom to use it. They do not keep any “key code” with them.3. China and preparations for ‘two-front war’ Rafale has proved its capability to counter China on the high mountains of Ladakh. Rafale is adept at “cold start” (quick take-off) and can fly with heavy weapons even in the cold and altitude of Ladakh. China has the J-20 stealth fighter, but experts believe that Rafale’s radar, electronic warfare system and its long-range ‘Meteor’ missiles are enough to defeat China in the air. What India needs right now is a “visible” but reliable fighter, not an expensive “invisible” plane that has to think ten times before flying it.4. Future of Make in India: India no longer wants to remain just a buyer. Rafale is for Marine (for Navy) and Air Force and if we are talking about Rafale, there is also a big angle of “Make in India” behind it. France is more ready than America to transfer engine technology to India and create a manufacturing hub here. Talking about Russia’s Sukhoi-57, Russia itself is currently embroiled in a war and due to the sanctions imposed on them, it may be risky to rely on the supply of spare parts and delivery of new jets.
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