Lean and Mean Platform

Jaison Deepak

The Indian Navy is scouting for 57 carrier borne fighters capable of being Short Take-Off but Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) and Catapult Assisted Take-Off but Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) to equip its new aircraft carriers. This would be the largest procurement of naval fighters in recent times through an open tender. The procurement is more significant in the circumstances where the LCA Navy has been rejected by the Indian Navy as being too heavy and failing to meet its requirements.

An F/A-18F Super Hornet conducts flight operations with an aircraft carrier

The naval fighter procurement, like all major acquisitions till date, would also have potential risks both financial and technical. The Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) saga has exposed the complexity and huge costs associated with such procurements especially when weapons, maintenance and other support are included. The aircraft have to meet the unique challenge of accommodating both CATOBAR/STOBAR launch methods. But most aircraft aren’t designed for both initially, and it doesn’t end there. The fact that the aircraft have to do that and yet be able to carry an operationally meaningful payload can be tricky. Compatibility with the lifts on existing carriers and the ability to move on deck easily are some areas which are of concern for the manufacturers. The Indian Navy also wants the Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) systems onboard to be integrated with the Automated Identification Systems (AIS) to identify friendly, civilian ships from the hostile ones.