6th Generation Fighter Program: News & Discussion

[Jay]

I don't know if the government deserves all the blame. At least it appears to be taking steps to strengthen the nation's defense.

The real problem lies with organizations such as HAL

It does, and it should. Without the government's direction, not a single thing will move an inch in our system. The government knew all of HAL's shortcomings, and if it now claims to have been hoodwinked by HAL, then that amounts to plausible deniability through willful blindness. Either that, or the head honchos in the government are simply incompetent.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/VishnuNDTV/status/2065027 ... 43459?s=20 --->

On FCAS - the next generation French stealth fighter, senior French diplomatic sources say 'everything is open' when it comes to a possible partnership with India but point out that this depends entirely on India formally approaching France. It's too premature to go beyond this at the moment.
They indicate that they are assessing all options after the recent breakdown in talks between France and Germany on the contours of the FCAS project.
They also explain that Franco-German defence cooperation is essential for the EU.
Without delving into the specifics of how/whether Indian weapons will be integrated onto future Rafales in IAF service, the senior diplomatic source explained that the new deal process is different from the earlier one and that intense negotiations were underway.

[Rakesh]

It does, and it should. Without the government's direction, not a single thing will move an inch in our system. The government knew all of HAL's shortcomings, and if it now claims to have been hoodwinked by HAL, then that amounts to plausible deniability through willful blindness. Either that, or the head honchos in the government are simply incompetent.

Bingo! Well Said!

[Manish_Sharma]

Let france develop FCAS.

IAF anyway likes whatever France develops...Mystère IV, Ouragan, Jaguar, M2k, Rafale, so they will like FCAS too...

but don't become a cow to be milked by miserly-constipated (in ToT) Dassault & lock up precious defence budget funds in this project. Once the project is completed IAF, can ask its usual ISEs & French will oblige with few extra billions...

But until then pour money into RSPA Ghata- TejasMk1a+Mk2, AMCA, SFDR, Super Sukho upgrade & Rocket Force (ordering 1 lakh surface to surface missiles Agni Shaurya Prithvi Prahar Pranash Pragati, anti ship Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LR-AShM), Brahmos, Hypersonics & produce SCRAMjet engines in big quantity.

French know how to empty our pockets & when it'll come to actually deliver ToT, they'll repeat the trick of U-209+Bofors type scandal (where we paid money for ToT but then western publication alleged bribe to GoI & we couldn't use the ToT to develop our own). Same way after sucking us dry Le-Monde will run fake news that bribe was paid favours were done to Anil Ambani (all fake) but leaving us in mess, so FCAS will become untouchable a 'fckp'

Stay away, let them spend their own money, let them develop, then see circa 2040 if its still needed or some new tech some new war tactics have made FCAS just obsolete? At that time hopefully we'll be tremendously rich with many options, we can make GCAP - F47 - FCAS do mujra in mmrca-x competition.

[Rakesh]

FCAS collapse opens door for India-France sixth-gen fighter jet program
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 667183.cms
12 June 2026

[Rakesh]

FCAS collapse opens door for India-France sixth-gen fighter jet program
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 667183.cms
12 June 2026

https://x.com/zone5aviation/status/2065 ... 21616?s=20 ---> I just want to point out the absurdity of wanting to join hands with the guys responsible for the collapse of the original partnership. By definition India will get less than whatever it was Germany walked away from.