Some questions for the fifth generation

Substantial changes have occurred over the last few years in our thinking and decision-making processes 8212; all for the good. India is more confident and open to new technology. Greater public attention is given to defence deals and expenditures, and there is a heightened concern for national security.

It is good news that a Medium Transport Aircraft and Medium Lift Helicopter will be developed jointly and built in India with Russian participation. India8217;s development will demand hundreds of these machines. This is the right time to bring the private sector into this partnership since HAL seems to be bursting at its seams with projects. Given the same financial support, I find no reason why a private sector group supported by the National Aeronautical Laboratory, IITs, IISc etc., cannot succeed.

Russia8217;s fifth generation fighter aircraft project and the country8217;s keenness to have India as a partner first became known to us nearly five years ago. After a lull, this is in the news again. Russia would fly the PAK-FA in 2009 8212; in the next two years! India is expected to make a 8220;lateral entry8221; as a partner in the programme. But at this late stage, India can at best only be a partner in funding and a partner in risk-sharing. Besides, details of the programme have never been shared with India.

The term 8220;fifth generation8221; has no meaning unless the capability, performance, design, structure and material, sensors, weapon systems, survivability are known. Our target will be a modern, cost-effective machine that could take on multiple tasks. We are not in any technology race. It is time that we assess the past performance of joint Russian projects that could help us in taking future decisions.

Have previous deals met the stated objectives? How well have Indian technologists and specialists learned from the previous projects with Russia? There have been major limitations on the usage of Russian software and electronic sub-systems on our own machines whereas total transparency is demanded on our software by the Russians. What kind of guarantees are possible from Russia? Have the guarantees been met in our current programme like the MIG-21BIS upgrade and the SU-30MKI? How does Time-Between-Overhaul of Russian sub-systems compare to what would be available to us from the West? How good are Russian sensor, radar and weapon system technologies?

Today, India has better global access to technologies and operational systems. How does the Russian 8216;fifth generation8217; compare with those that would be accessible to India from elsewhere? What kind of business package is possible? Would we be free to export? Would Russia buy from our production line?

Assuming that the 8216;fifth generation8217; machine is well suited to India, what level of participation is possible in the programme? Russia8217;s security laws prohibit Indians from working in high security projects/laboratories in Russia. Till now, Indian specialists were not permitted to participate or work in the laboratories or at flight test and evaluation centres in Russia. Indian test pilots are not permitted to fly our own production aircraft in Russia or participate in any flight development and weapons system testing programmes in Russia. Our scientists and engineers are not permitted to participate in Russian laboratories whereas some Chinese are.

Do we have appropriately qualified engineers and specialists to work in Russia for a few years assuming that they would be permitted and then be available for the next 10 years to work in this field in India? Technology absorption has been a great challenge. Licence production helped in meeting the service needs but not the aspirations to develop on our own.

The BrahMos project may throw some light on these issues. For the first time a Russian-Indian JV was established and hailed as a success. While the missile is stated to have entered service in the Indian Navy, there is no news on whether the JV supplied these to Russia for their use. How many of these have been procured by Russia? If they have not procured as promised, why not? Is India really hopeful of exporting these to Malaysia, UAE, Chile, South Africa, Kuwait? Can Indian orders sustain production? A single missile in my estimation is expected to cost around Rs 25 crore which does not include the cost of support systems and modifications. Are we really ready to go for the hypersonic version of the missile while the operational efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the supersonic ones are still to be proven?

We admire Russia8217;s ability to develop advanced systems. We hope that Russia8217;s relationship with India will permit greater interaction that would be mutually beneficial in learning, sharing, testing and evaluating technologies and produce and market. However we must recognise the impenetrable walls. It will be no easier with countries of the West. If India is to emerge as a major power in its own right, we need to work hard at building capabilities indigenously. Our space effort has given us the inspiration. Why not aim for similar progress in aeronautics?

The writer is former Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force