Indian Air Force Needs MMRCA, Not Rafale: IAF Chief

The Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha today asserted that the IAF needed a medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) to bolster its depleting fighter levels but not necessarily the Rafale aircraft made by Dassault.

In a media interaction at Aero India 2015, he said the requirement is for a MMRCA type fighter. It has to replace the obsolescent aircraft of the IAF such as the MIG-21, MiG-27 and their upgraded versions to maintain operational viability.

The MMRCA would fill a crucial grap in the IAF's force level and maintain its squadron strength.

He said even after signing an agreement with a manufacturer of the MMRCA, it would need 3 years to bring in the first squadron of 18 aircraft and another 5-6 years for the rest of the allocated 108 aircraft.

Referring to the Dassault Rafale fighter, he said we are "quite happy" with the Rafale and that contract negotiations are still on. But if for any reason, it does not work out, we may have look for "other" aircraft.

However, he hoped that the deal with Dassault would be signed as it has been shortlisted as L1 or lowest bidder.